The Rise and Fall of the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)

Qin Shihuang: China's First Emperor

The unification of the Central Plains by Qin Wang (Ying Zheng) occurred between 230 BCE and 221 BCE, culminating in the defeat of the six major vassal states. This reunification ended centuries of conflict among warring princes, fostering stability and establishing the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)—the first unified, multi-ethnic feudal state in Chinese history.

Upon unification, Qin Shihuang (meaning "First Emperor") created a far-reaching imperial system. He established the Sangong and Jiuqing system for the central government and promoted the Commandery and Prefecture (County) system locally, significantly strengthening centralization.

Standardization and National Unity

Emperor Qin Shihuang implemented crucial integrated measures that had an epoch-making influence on China's historical development. These included:

• Unified writing script (characters).
• Standardized weights, measures, and currency.
• Destroying private weapons to prevent rebellion.
• Expanding territory, notably conquering the Baiyue in the South (Nanfu Baiyue).
• Implementing ideological control, famously through the "Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars" (Fenshu Kengru).

Brutality, Public Works, and Collapse

Despite its achievements, the rule of the Qin Dynasty was notoriously brutal. Endless military service, forced labor (servitude), and tyrannical punishments brought immense suffering to the populace. Qin Shihuang commissioned massive public works, including the construction of the Great Wall and his elaborate mausoleum, guarded by the Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

While these projects left an unparalleled cultural legacy, they severely aggravated the pressure on the people, leading to widespread death and illness among laborers. This oppression fueled farmer resistance, causing the Qin Dynasty to collapse just a few years after its founding.

Foundations of Qin's Unification

The success of the Qin unification was deeply rooted in earlier reforms implemented by the State of Qin, particularly those initiated by the statesman Shang Yang during the Warring States period. These reforms laid the necessary foundations:

Political Foundation: Centralization

Shang Yang's reforms replaced the old feudal system with the Commandery and Prefecture system, significantly strengthening central authority and laying the political groundwork for unification.

Economic Foundation: Agriculture First

By emphasizing agriculture and restraining commerce, rewarding farming and weaving, the state promoted agricultural production. The unification of national weights and measures further boosted economic development, providing sufficient material security for Qin's military campaigns.

Military Foundation: Meritocracy

The system rewarded military merit based on achievements in battle. This incentivized soldiers and commanders to secure territorial gains, thus laying the crucial military foundation for the reunification of China.