The
first emperor of all China was a fello named Ying Zheng.
Born in 260 BC during the "warring States Period" , a chaotic,
fierce, and dangerous time in Chinese history. He was a
member of the Qin dynasty, and ascended to the throne in
247 BC at the age of twelve and a half. In 221BC King Zheng
united all of what is now China and renamed himself Qin
Shihuangdi ("First Emperor of Qin"), althoigh "united"
is
rather a tranquil word to be using for the bloody conquest
of the region's small polities.
According
to the Shiji records of the Han Dynasty court historian
Sima Quan , Qin Shihuangdi was a phenomenal leader, who
began connecting existing walls to create the first version of
Great Wall of China, constructed an extensive network of roads
and canals throughout his empire, standardized written language
and money, and abolished feudalism, establishing in its place
provinces run by civilian governors. Qin Shihuangdi died in
210BC, at which time the Tarracotta Army was completed to
guard his afterlife. During the brief period of Shihuangdi's rule ,
a remarkable testament to his control of the countryside and
its resources was constructed a semi - subterranean mausoleum
complex and a army of 7,000 life size sculpted clay terracotta
soldiers, chariots and horses.