Chinese Qin dynasty remained in power for only half of the decade.But it was her, and above all the first ruler of this name - Qin Shi Huang was destined to go down in history as the unifier of disparate Chinese kingdoms into a centralized empire, laid the foundations of socio-economic, administrative and political development in China for many centuries to come.
Background of the empire in ancient China
During the fifth and third centuries BC, the ancient kingdoms in China are constantly at war with each other for supremacy.In these circumstances, the future they could provide only the union of separate entities into a single strong power, able to protect its borders against external enemies and to capture slaves in the neighboring areas and new land.Due to the ongoing hostility of the Chinese principalities such association could be made only by force under the auspices of the strongest of them, which eventually happened.
time span from 255 for 222 years.BC went down in history as the period of the Warring States in China - "fighting (or fighting) kingdoms."The strongest of these was the principality of Qin (the territory of modern Shanxi Province).Its ruler, Ying Zheng ascended the throne at the age of twelve, but very quickly distinguished himself as a strong and cruel ruler.Prior to his age ruled by the state of Qin Lu Bu-wei, an influential trader court.But as soon as the mighty Qin was twenty-one, he immediately took power into their own hands, mercilessly disposing of the Lu Bu-wei, tried to overthrow him.
After years of fighting to 221 BC, Ying Zheng was able to subdue all the "Warring States", one after another: the Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi.Standing at the head of a huge power, Ying Zheng took the new title for himself and his descendants - "Huangdi", which means "emperor".
Qin Shi Huang - China's first emperor Qin
Empire extended over a vast territory - from Sichuan and Guangdong to South Manchuria.Having ascended to the throne under the name of Qin Shi Huang, "the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty," Ying Zheng, first destroyed the independent public education subordinate to it lands.The state was divided into thirty-six areas, each of which is also a military district.At the head of each area of the Emperor of China set two rulers - civilian and military.
was severely limited by the power of the aristocracy.The former aristocratic titles were abolished - now the criterion is the level of the nobility of wealth and services to the state.Officials cumbersome state apparatus on the ground is now under the control of the central administration, this facilitated the introduction of inspectors to oversee their activities.
Qin Shi Huang held a number of other reforms, made famous Qin Dynasty, he unified the monetary system, introduced a unified system of weights and lengths of container across the country, has made a set of laws, it established a single system for the whole country of writing.
In addition, they were officially sanctioned the right of free trade land, which resulted in an unprecedented hitherto enrichment nobility, along with the massive devastation of freemen.The significant strengthening of tax oppression and work obligations, and the new extremely strict laws providing for collective responsibility, led to widespread slave trade.New know - rich artisans, big money-lenders and traders - strongly supported reforms that conducted the Qin dynasty, but the old aristocracy was extremely displeased with them.Confucians, expresses the sentiments of the past, we began to openly criticize the government and the empire predict a quick death.As a result, on the orders of Qin Shi Huang Confucians have undergone cruelest repressions.
Construction activities in the Qin Empire
Under the rule of Qin Shi Huang was a large-scale network construction of irrigation facilities and roads, spread throughout the country.In the years 214-213 BC, began the construction of a grand fortification - the Great Wall of China - to protect the northern borders of the empire from the nomads.
In addition, during the second half of the last century, archeologists discovered was a magnificent tomb of Qin Shi Huang.In the vast crypt it was entombed whole "terracotta army" - completed six thousand life-size figures of soldiers and war-horses, "guarding" the eternal peace of the emperor.
Religion in the Qing Empire
Epoch, when the authorities in China was the Qin dynasty, was a time of full domination of religion.All sectors of society believed in the supernatural order of the world.According to the views that emerged long before the Qin Empire, the existence of the world was determined by the interaction of two cosmic principles - yin and yang.In close connection with this is the idea of the five world elements.The emperor declared a supernatural being, descended from heaven.It was believed that he was under the patronage of all the elements, and his heavenly "equivalent" acted sun.
himself Qin Shi Huang at different degrees of religiosity, is reduced to fetishism and primitive superstition.He often resorted to a variety of spells, witchcraft, I spent a lot of time and effort to search for the "elixir of immortality", even shells for these purposes a large expedition to the Japanese islands.
Qin Dynasty: the fall
In 210 BC, is in one of inspection trips around the country, the Emperor Qin Shi Huang died suddenly (historians believe that at the time he was fifty-one years).Ascended to the throne of his son, Er Shi Huang, tried to continue the policy of his father.However, he managed to stay in power for only two years.Dissatisfaction with the various segments of the population so as a rule of the Qin Dynasty emperors, grew into a civil war.This originated when the uprising of the peasants under the leadership of Chen Sheng (209-208 BCE).Large landowners, as well as the descendants of the old, the old nobility and rebelled against the central government, simultaneously battling with rebels peasants.
In 207 BC Er Shi Huang was killed.A certain Zhao Gao, the noble dignitary and relative of the emperor, who led the conspiracy against him, he put him on the throne of the state of his own son - Zi Ying.However, the new ruler was not to stay on the throne.Not more than a month Zi Ying and his father were killed by discontented nobles.They were the last men who are related by blood to the Qin Shi Huang.Thus, the Qin Dynasty in China fell, not existed for two decades.
historical significance of the Qin Dynasty
Creation in China a single strong centralized empire played an important role in the further historical development of the country.The political unification of the land, the legitimacy of the right to private property, division of property on the basis of population and activities that support the growth of trade - all this contributed to the development of social and economic relations in the country, laid the foundations for further reforms.
But too tough measures that Qin Dynasty made to centralize the state, the destruction of the old aristocracy, tax oppression, higher prices and duties, ruining small and medium-sized producers, led to a powerful flash of rebellion that ended its rule.
