Qin Shi Huangdi

First Emperor of China

 Learning Goal
• Students will understand who Qin Shi Huangdi was and the changes he
made to China.
• Students will analyse sources to identify various ways Qin Shi Huangdi
was viewed.
 Before we begin…
• Think back to the last history unit. Who has heard on Qin Shi Huangdi
before?
• What is he famous for?
 Who was Qin Shi Huangdi?
• First Emperor of a unified China.
• Lived from 259BCE to 210 BCE.
• Ruled as Emperor and established the Qin Dynasty (221BCE – 207BCE).
• Recorded as one of the shortest dynasties in Chinese history.
• Although short, the dynasty made many long-lasting changes.
 Video on Qin Shi Huangdi
• https://online.clickview.com.au/exchange/videos/7862078/ancient-china-p
art-01
 Improvements Qin Shi Huangdi made
• Unified China as one empire
• Led many reforms:
• Created a central government
• Rich people were forced to live in one city
• Standardised weights, coins, and measurements
• Created roads and canals
• Expanded the Great Wall of China
• Created the Terracotta Warriors
 Why did his empire fall so soon?
• He was a brutal ruler:
• Burned books.
• Buried scholars alive.
• Executed rich people who didn’t do
what he commanded.
• Made human sacrifices.
 How did he die so young?
• Qin Shi Huangdi was obsessed with eternal life.
• Drank a potion that he believed would make him live forever.
• The potion he drank was Mercury (a liquid metal).
• He died shortly after.
 Worksheet!
• Let’s read through the information on the worksheet provided as a class.
• Once complete, answer the investigate questions 1-5.