Leader Analysis Sheet
Name of Leader: Shi Huangdi
Lifespan: 259 B.C.E. – 210 B.C.E.
Country/region: China
Title: Qin Shi Huangdi (First Emperor)
Years in Power: 221 B.C.E. – 210 B.C.E.
Political, Social, & Economic Conditions Prior to Leaders Gaining Power
- Leader/Warrior strongman of the state of Qin.
- Was from a royal family of Qin.
Ideology, Motivation, Goals:
- Wanted to unify China and put an end to the civil wars that were so frequent.
- Believed that China’s political conflicts were caused by the aristocrats who held too much power and were able to overthrow the government with ease. Wanted to take away their power.
- Believed that intellectual discussions would breed revolutions and would destroy his rule.
Significant Actions & events During Term of Power
- Ordered nobles to leave their regions and appear at the court; allowed Shi Huangdi to assign bureaucrats that were not nobles to rule the provinces.
- Built the Great Wall of China.
- Attacked and oppressed intelligent discussions, burning many books.
Short-Term effects:
- Regional resistance or rebellions were nonexistent, crushed by Shi Huangdi’s rule and powerful army.
- Great Wall protected China from any invasions, but also supported their expansion rather than limit them to a confined area.
Long-Term Effects
- Great Wall led to the end of Qin Dynasty; high taxes needed to support the Great Wall led to peasants revolting.
- Attacks on intellectuals led to motivation for rebellions against the Qin rule.