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Qin Shi Huang — who was the first emperor of China?
Qin Shi Huang went down in history as the first emperor of China. It was during his reign that work on the Great Wall of China began. He transformed a unified China with his decisions. How did he become emperor and how did he end up?
Even before China’s first emperor was born, the Middle Kingdom had begun the process of unifying its vast lands. It was Qin Shi Huang who only sealed this process, which he accomplished in rapid succession. The system he created, however, quickly collapsed after his death. The emperor and his army later became the inspiration for the famous Terracotta Army.
Zhao Zheng — ruler of the Qin State
The original name of China’s first emperor was Zhao Zheng. He was born in 259 BC as the son of the heir to the throne, who happened to be a hostage of the Chinese state of Zhao at that time. This is where the first part of his name “Zheng of Zhao” comes from. He ascended the throne at the age of 13.
At the time, Qin was the most powerful state in Chinese civilization. Previous rulers had successfully defeated and absorbed successive neighbors. By the time Zhao Zheng took the throne in 246 BC, there were only 6 independent states left.
Located in the far west, the Qin State was seen as barbaric. Primarily because of…
