The Qin Dynasty 221-206 BCE
The Rise of Qin Animated file retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De_stridande_staterna_animering.gif
The First Emperor 19th–century illustration of Qin Shi Huang Image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg 19th–century illustration of Qin Shi Huang
Legalism “Punishment should not be other than severe and definite, thus making the people fear them; and laws should not be other than uniform and steadfast, thus making the people comprehend them. . . . the enlightened [ruler] uses his men's strength but does not listen to their words, rewards them for their meritorious services but always eliminates the useless.” – Han Fei (280-233 BCE) Source: Han Fei (280-233 BCE), “Five Vermin: A Pathological Analysis of Politics.”
Qin Dynasty Left image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Wall_in_Inner_Mongolia.JPG Right image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BronzePlaque-EdictOfSecondEmperor-Qin-ROM-May8-08.png Left: The Great Wall of China between Inner Mongolia and Shanxi province in 2006 Right: A 209 BCE bronze plaque with official order from the Qin dynasty
Fall of Qin Image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terracotta_Army_Pit_1_-_7.jpg Image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terracotta_Army_5.jpg Terracotta Army in the Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, built 246-209 BCE
Central Historical Question What caused the fall of the Qin dynasty?