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The '''Qin dynasty''' replaced the [[Zhou dynasty]] in 221 BC and ruled until 206 BC. It was the first unified [[Chinese]] empire, and followed a philosophy known as [[Legalism]] to great effect in amassing its force and overriding all the other states of the [[Warring States]] period.

The '''Qin dynasty''' replaced the [[Zhou dynasty]] in 221 BC and ruled until 206 BC. It was the first unified [[Chinese]] empire, and followed a philosophy known as [[Legalism]] to great effect in amassing its force and overriding all the other states of the [[Warring States]] period.

The dynasty was founded by the ruler of the [[state of Qin]], Prince Ying Zheng. The state was excellent in battle and conquered all the the states, unifying the country.  The state of Qin was originally a fief of the Zhou state, a military province intended to provide a buffer against western "barbarians" and to produce horses; it was in an out of the way area, and the region was part-desert.  There was little indication that this state would prove to be the most powerful, or that it would unify China in the end. However, victories at such key battles as [[Battle of Changping]], the bloodiest engagement in history until the [[Second World War]], against the [[state of Zhao]], allowed Qin to develop and conquer the other 6 states by 221 BC under Ying Zheng.

The dynasty was founded by the ruler of the [[state of Qin]], Prince Ying Zheng. The state was excellent in battle and conquered all the states, unifying the country.  The state of Qin was originally a fief of the Zhou state, a military province intended to provide a buffer against western "barbarians" and to produce horses; it was in an out of the way area, and the region was part-desert.  There was little indication that this state would prove to be the most powerful, or that it would unify China in the end. However, victories at such key battles as [[Battle of Changping]], the bloodiest engagement in history until the [[Second World War]], against the [[state of Zhao]], allowed Qin to develop and conquer the other 6 states by 221 BC under Ying Zheng.

{{History of China}}

{{History of China}}

The Qin dynasty began building the [[Great Wall of China]], although this was a much earlier wall, made of tamped earth, not the more modern stone structure constructed under the Ming dynasty, over 1500 years later. The wall was a large project, and produced by corvee labour, but it built on earlier structures produced by various states in the [[Warring States]] period to keep out the nomads of the steppes to the north and west.

The Qin dynasty began building the [[Great Wall of China]], although this was a much earlier wall, made of tamped earth, not the more modern stone structure constructed under the Ming dynasty, over 1500 years later. The wall was a large project, and produced by corvee labour, but it built on earlier structures produced by various states in the [[Warring States]] period to keep out the nomads of the steppes to the north and west.