Shi Huangdi

Shi Huangdi was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of China. He unified the warring states of China in 221 BCE and established a centralized and autocratic regime. He reformed the administration, the currency, the writing system, the weights and measures, and the laws. He also undertook massive construction projects, such as the Great Wall, the imperial palace, the road network, and the canal system. He ordered the burning of books and the execution of scholars who opposed his rule. He sought immortality and sent expeditions to find the elixir of life. He also built a grand mausoleum for himself, guarded by a terracotta army of thousands of life-sized soldiers and horses. He died in 210 BCE during a tour of his empire. He was succeeded by his second son, Huhai, who took the throne as Qin Er Shi. His dynasty collapsed in 207 BCE after a series of rebellions and civil wars. Shi Huangdi is regarded as one of the most influential and controversial figures in Chinese history. He is praised for his achievements in unifying China and creating a lasting legacy of culture and civilization. He is also criticized for his tyranny, cruelty, and oppression of the people.