The Qin Dynasty: Birth of the Empire (Dynasties of Ancient China)

The Qin dynasty lasted only fifteen years, yet it transformed China forever. The story begins in the violent world of the Warring States period, when seven competing kingdoms battled for supremacy. At the center of the drama is Ying Zheng, the son of a hostage prince who became the king of Qin, defeated all rival states, and declared himself Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. Through sweeping military campaigns, bold reforms, and strict Legalist policies, Qin Shi Huang unified China for the first time. He standardized writing, currency, weights and measures, and created a centralized government system that shaped Chinese administration for centuries afterwards.