QIN

DYNASTY
LEGALISM AND ITS EFFECTS Qin Shi Huang Di was greatly influenced by Legalism. Legalists believed in strict laws, hash punishments, and wanted people to never trust anyone, even your own mother. So that he would not be threatened by powerful lords, he replaced the old system of feudalism with a government he controlled by himself. He divided his land into 36 districts. Three officials were set up to govern each district. One was responsible for the army. Another took care of the laws and agriculture. The third reported what was going on to the emperor. The emperor of Qin used harsh measures to maintain his power. When he discovered plots against his life, he had the leaders of the plots and their families killed. He even exiled his own mother from court WHAT DID QIN SHI HUANG DI DO TO GAIN POWER Qin Shi Huang Di did many things to help himself gain power. He used military might, spies, bribery, and alliances to conquer the remaining rival states in China. His empire became far larger than the kingdoms of previous dynasties. In 221 B.C.E., he gained control of all of China. The emperor was able to do this because of how he conquered every state in China. He then decided to go by a new name, Qin Shi Huang Di, or First Emperor of Qin. WHO WAS QIN SHI HUANG DI Qin Shi Huang Di began life as Price Zheng of the royal family of the state of Qin. He was born in 259 B.C.E., near the end of the Warring States period. In 256 B.C.E., Qin took over the state of Zhou, ending the Zhou dynasty. Ten years later, 13-year-old Prince Zheng became king. Later on in the emperors life, he renamed himself Qin Shi Huang Di, or First Emperor of Qin.

China under the Zhou. But during the dynasties later years, China collapsed in disorder. Political instability led many scholars to talk about the proper way to Background on that the peace Period rule. Confucius taught and order depended upon proper behavior. Preceding the Qin Those in above must lead Dynasty by example. Those below them must obey. Daoists Policies Used to Strengthen believed that people should live simply and in harmony with nature. They said Control the best rulers were those who ruled the least. Finally, Legalists like Hanfeizi believed that people were driven by their own self-interest. They Qin Shi Huangtaught Di wasthat rulers could create order only through strict laws and harsh punishments. This quite an ambitious man. He used only guaranteed that China was in need of a bribery, ruler. Someone who was military might, spies, intelligent, and did things that made people of allalliances philosophies happy. the the and to conquer During the period before the Qin dynasty, feudalism helped stabilize China under the Zhou. But during the dynasties later years, China collapsed in disorder. Political instability led many scholars to talk about the proper way to rule. Confucius taught that peace and order depended upon proper behavior. Those in above must lead by example. Those below them must obey. Daoists believed that people should live simply and in harmony with nature. They said the best rulers were those who ruled the least. Finally, Legalists like Hanfeizi believed that people were driven by their own self-interest. They taught that rulers could create order only through strict laws and harsh punishments. This only guaranteed that China was in need of a ruler. Someone who was intelligent, and did things that made people of all philosophies happy. remaining rival states. He was also a Legalist. This means that he believed that everyone is born bad, that a person should never trust another person, and that he would reward people who would turn in other people for breaking the laws, or rules and he had harsh punishments. The people of China were also probably afraid of him for being Qin Shi so Huang Legacy so harsh, that isDis another policy of him strengthening Although his dynasty did not last control over China. long, the deeds of the First Emperor created a huge legacy. He was very important to the formation of China as a unified state and was even responsible for giving China its English name. Scripts, weights and coinange were standardized, road networks were established and the first part of the Great Wall was constructed to keep out invaders from the North. The First Emperor's impact on the world can still be felt today.