Home » History » Archaeology » Individuality Unearthed - Page 2

Individuality Unearthed - Page 2

© Jennifer Overhulse-King

Qin was also responsible for instituting wall-building as a means of defending his kingdom. He had the first Great Wall constructed around 214 B.C. He exerted his control over the largest of details and some that people may even consider minute. For example, the axle length on all carts was standardized to two meters to ensure easy passage on roads that were being built throughout the kingdom. Not only would this improve the lives of the people transporting goods, but it would also ensure the easy deployment of Qin's troops in times of war.

Unfortunately, all his great leadership skills did not outweigh his lack of tolerance and humanity. Under his rule, scholars were censured and the Book of History, the Book of Morals and the Book of Songs were all burned. Over 450 Confucian scholars were buried alive at Qin's order for discussing such works.

Stands to reason, wouldn't you think, that Qin Shihuangdi made a few enemies? Several unsuccessful attempts were made on his life, including plots initiated by Jin Ke and Zhang Liang, leaders of the former Yan and Han kingdoms respectively.

Qin Shihuangdi thought he had designed his empire to last forever, and he undoubtedly intended for one of his sons to rule upon his death; but as we all know, nothing lasts forever. Despite the many assassination attempts on his life, Qin Shihuangdi died of natural causes while on an inspection tour of his empire in 210 B.C.

The Fall of the Empire
Li Si, one of Qin's chief advisors, understood that the death of the emperor without a named heir to the throne could prove to be the end of the dynasty. So, Li Si concealed the body of the emperor in an imperial chariot during the long trip back to the capitol. Upon the procession's return to the palace, Li Si declared that by Qin's order Hu Hai was to take his place as emperor. Hu Hai ascended to the throne of China as Qin Er Shi Huang Di, or Second Emperor.

By 210 B.C., construction on Qin Shihuangdi's funerary complex had been underway for 36 years. When the First Emperor was finally buried in 209 B.C., the work was still not completed.

So, what Qin Shihuangdi hoped would last forever began to crumble before he was even buried. In 209 B.C. came the first of many peasant rebellions that the Qin Dynasty would have to ward off. Unfortunately, subsequent rebellions followed and the Qin Dyansty finally fell to the Han in 206 B.C. Only the fall of the empire itself stopped the work on Qin's funerary complex, 40 years after it began. Now, Qin's only hope for immortality was his tomb.

The copyright of the article Individuality Unearthed - Page 2 in Archaeology is owned by . Permission to republish Individuality Unearthed - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.