Qin Shi Huang Though only 13 when he ascended the throne of the western state of Qin in 246 BC within 25 years Qin Shi Huang had managed to subjugate all the quarrelsome eastern states, thus becoming the first emperor of a unified China. “As a silkworm devours a mulberry leaf, so Qin swallowed up the kingdoms of the Emoire”, or so the first-century BC historian Sima Qian put it. During his eleven years as the sole monarch of the Chi qese world, Qin Shi Huang set out to transform it, hoping to create an empire that his descendants would continue to rule for “ten thousand years His reign was marked by centralized rule, and often ruthless tyranny.

As well as standardizing weights and measures (even the width of cart wheels) and ordering a unified script to be used. the First Emperor decreed that all books, except those on the history of the Qin and or such practical matters as agriculture, be destroyed along with the scholars who produced them. It was only thanks to a few Confucian scholars, wnc hid their books away, that any literature from before this period has survived. Qin Shi Huang himself favoured the strict philosophy of “legalism”. a system of thought which taught that human nature was intrinsically bad, and must be reined in by the araconian laws of the state. As well as overseeing the construction of roads linking all parts of the empire mainly to aid military, operations, Qin Shi Huang began the construction of the Great Wall. a oroject that perhaps more than any of his harsh laws and high taxes turnea the populace, drummed into constructing it, against him. Ambitious to the end. Qin Shi Huang died on a journey to the east coast seeking the legendary island of the immortals and the secret drug of longevity they held. His entourage concealed his death - easy to do as he lived n total seclusion from his subjects - and installed an easily manipulated prince on the throne, The empire soon disintegrated into civil war and within a few years.

Qin Shi Huang’s capital had been destroyed, his palace burnt and his tomb ransacked. it is possible that Qin Shi Huang, seen as an arcnewpal tyrant, has been harshly judged by history, as the story of his reign was written in the Han dynasw, when an eastern people whom he subjugated became ascendant, They are unlikely to have been enamoured of him, and the fact that the Terracotta Army faces east, the direction that Qin Shi Huang thought threats to his empire would come from, indicates the animosity that existed. The outstanding artistry of the terracotta figures has revised the accepted view of the Qin dynasty as a time of unremitting Dhilistinism. and his reign has been reassessea since their discovery. Mac Zedong it is said, was an admirer of his predecessor in revolution. via raised walkways. Averaging 1.8m in height, the figures are hollow from the thighs up; head and hands were modelled separately and attached to the mass- produced bodies. Each soldier has different features and expressions and wears marks of rank; some believe that each is a portrait of a real member of the ancient hnperial Guard. Their hair is tied in buns and they are wearing knee- length battle tunics; the figures on the outside originally wore leather armour, now decayed. Traces of pigment show that their dress was once bright yellow, purple and green, though it’s grey now. Originally the troops carried real bows, swords, spears and crossbows, more than ten thousand of which have been found. The metal weapons, made of sophisticated alloys, were still sharp when discovered, and the arrowheads contained lead to make them poisonous. A central group of terracotta horses is all that remain of a set of chariots. These wore harnesses with brass fittings and have been identified as depicting a breed &om Gansu and Xinjiang. Each has six teeth, an indication that they are in their prime.