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221 BCE
The beginning of the Qin Dynasty
The state of Qin won the Warring States period, therefore unifying China under the rule of Qin. Qin was led by Yin Zheng who after emerging victorious, called himself Shi Huangti, becoming the first emperor of China.
photo source:http://www.china-mike.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/qin-dynasty-map-small.jpg -
221 BCE
Why the Timeline:
The Qin Dynasty was a short but very rich time of improvement and unification for China. Under Qin rule the Chinese writing system, weights, coins, and measurements were all standardized. In addition grand projects like the Great Wall and the Ling Canal began. This timeline aims to highlight the importance of the Qin dynasty as well as its legacy.
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220 BCE
Shi Huangdi under took the 1st of a series of imperial inspection tours.
Shi Huangdi went on a series of imperial inspection tours over the course of his reign. During these tours he would oversee the unification and organization of the empire. Another reason for his travels was his desire to find master magicians who would give him the elixir of immortality, a concept he was obsessed by.
photo source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Xu_Fu_expedition's_for_the_elixir_of_life.jpg -
218 BCE
Construction of the Great Wall begins
Emperor Qin Shi Huang commanded the unification of many existing northern walls left over form the Warring States Period. The Emperor desired that the new wall would extend more than 10,000 Li to protect China from Northern attacks. The wall stretched over 3,000 miles form Shanhaiguan to the Gansu province.
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214 BCE
Shi Huangi Secures Northern Territory
With his Legalist Philosophies, the Emperor desired to create a strong army. He decreed that every man was to be drafted into the military for a year. He also went to war with northern nomads. General Meng Tian was appointed to lead 100,000 men against the nomads. In addition, Meng Tian oversaw the building of the Great Wall in order to secure the northern boundary against the Nomadic Xiongnu.
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214 BCE
Construction begins on Grand Canal
The Ling Canal was originally constructed to provide the Emperor's armies with necessary supplies during their campaigns against the Nam Viet. The canal connected the Li and Xiang Rivers, and is still in use today.
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213 BCE
The Burning of the Books
Minister Li Si proposed that all books that did not center on Qin historical records, agriculture, medicine, or Prognostication be burned in order to promote Legalist thought. The Emperor listened to Minister Li Si and ordered any book not encouraging Legalism was to be burned.
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212 BCE
Scholars are Executed
The Emperor was obsessed with the concept of immortality, an obsession which led him to seek answers in both magic and alchemy. Once he started summoning magicians to court, Confucius Scholars condemned his actions. The tension between the Emperor and the Scholars mounted until the Emperor executed 460 of them, effectively ceasing their oppositional defiance.
photo source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Killing_the_Scholars,_Burning_the_Books.jpg -
210 BCE
Shi Huangi dies
Although, Shi Huangdi experienced serveral assassination attempts, he death actually occurred during a tour to Eastern China while searching for immortal life. His death was supposedly caused by swallowing mercury pills which were intended to make him immortal. His grave was protected by over 6,000 terra-cotta warriors meant to watch over him in the after-life.
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210 BCE
Hu Hai takes Throne
Hu Hai, also known as Emperor Er Shi, inherited the throne after Shi Huangdi's death.Er Shi was a weak ruler and depended on his tutor Zhao Gao to direct government affairs. Zhao Gao eventually betrayed him and used his troops to invade the palace. Gao forced Er Shi to commit suicide ending his three year reign.
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208 BCE
Minister Li Si is Executed
Li Si was the Legalist minister to the Emperor. He was crucial in the standardization of coinage and the unification of Chinese writing. In addition he is the one who persuaded the Emperor to order the "burning of the books" for the promotion of Legalism. Li was eventually captured after attempting to rule as regent for the monarchs son and was executed.
Photo source :http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/totalwar-ar/images/c/cf/Li_Si.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151001212224 -
206 BCE
Qin Dynasty ends
Due to Emperor Er Shi's weak rule, the Chinese people became emboldened and soon began to revolt. Uprisings and rebel alliances eventually overthrew the Qin authority and all of the imperial house was killed, therefore bringing the Qin dynasty to an end.
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