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'''Qin Shi Huangdi''' was the first emperor of [[China]]. He ruled from 221 BC until his death in 210 BC at the age of 50.

'''Qin Shi Huangdi''' was the first emperor of [[China]]. He ruled from 221 BC until his death in 210 BC at the age of 50.

In a nine year war (230-221 BC), the Qin ruler defeated the rulers of the other [[Warring States]] and united China. Among the projects undertaken by him were the [[Terracotta Army]] and the first version of the [[Great Wall of China]].<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/38065.htm]</ref> He was a brutish tyrant who banned all books on philosophical and political topics. The story of Lady Meng, whose husband died building the Great Wall, is used to illustrate the emperor's cruelty. The emperor's early death is sometimes blamed on his use of mercury, which took as a elixir of immortality. He is condemned in traditional history, but admired by [[Mao Zedong]] and the Communists.

In a nine year war (230-221 BC), the Qin ruler defeated the rulers of the other [[Warring States]] and united China. Among the projects undertaken by him were the [[Terracotta Army]] and the first version of the [[Great Wall of China]].<ref>"[http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/38065.htm Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.) and His Empire]", china.org.com</ref> He was a brutish tyrant who banned all books on philosophical and political topics. The story of Lady Meng, whose husband died building the Great Wall, is used to illustrate the emperor's cruelty.<ref>"[http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-8-2/44537.html Good Stories from China: Lady Meng-Jiang's Tears Made the Great Wall Collapse]", ''The Epoch Times'', Aug 02, 2006</ref> The emperor's early death is sometimes blamed on his use of mercury, which took as a elixir of immortality. He is condemned in traditional history, but admired by [[Mao Zedong]] and the Communists.

==References==

==References==