Qin Dynasty: Map & History
The Qin dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China.
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The Qin dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China. It is named for its progenitor state of Qin, a fief of the confederal Zhou dynasty. Beginning in 230 BC, the Qin under King Ying Zheng engaged in a series of wars conquering each of the rival states that had previously pledged fealty to the Zhou. This culminated in 221 BC with the successful unification of China. The Qin then assumed an imperial prerogative – with Ying Zheng declaring himself to be Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, and bringing an end to the Warring States period. This state of affairs lasted until 206 BC, when the dynasty collapsed in the years following Qin Shi Huang's death. The Qin dynasty's 14-year existence was the shortest of any major dynasty in Chinese history, with only two emperors. However, the succeeding Han dynasty largely continued the military and administrative practices instituted by the Qin; as a result, the Qin have been credited as the originators of the Chinese imperial system that would endure in some form until the Xinhai Revolution in 1911.
Modern Countries Once Part of Qin Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Qin Dynasty covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Hong Kong S.A.R.210–209 BCE · nearly all
- Macau S.A.R210–209 BCE · nearly all
- China218–209 BCE · a large part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Qin Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Qin Dynasty in Depth
History
According to the Shiji (c. 91 BC), during the 9th century BC, Feizi – said to be a descendant of the legendary political advisor Gao Yao – was granted rule over the settlement of Qin (秦邑; modern Qingshui County, Gansu). During the rule of King Xiao of Zhou, this area became known as the state of Qin. In 897 BC, during the Gonghe Regency, the area was allocated as a dependency dedicated to raising horses. In the late 8th century BC, one of Feizi's descendants, Duke Zhuang of Qin, was summoned by the Zhou to take part in a military campaign against the Western Rong; the effort was successful and Zhuang was rewarded with additional territory.
Government and military
The Qin government was highly bureaucratic, and was administered by a hierarchy of officials serving the emperor. The Qin put into practice the teachings of Han Fei, allowing the state to administer all of its territories, including those recently conquered. All aspects of life were standardised, from measurements and language to more practical details, such as the length of chariot axles.
The empire was divided into 36 commanderies, which were further subdivided into more than 1000 districts. The states made by the emperor were assigned to officials dedicated to the task rather than placing the burden on people from the royal family.
Culture and society
The Qin ruled over territories roughly corresponding to the extent at the time of Chinese culture, as well as that of what would later be understood as the Han Chinese ethnic group. On the empire's frontiers were diverse groups with cultures foreign to the Qin; even areas under the control of the Qin military remained culturally distinct.
The Qin aristocracy were largely similar to the Zhou in culture and daily life, with regional variation generally considered a symbol of the lower classes – and ultimately as contrary to the unification that the government strove to achieve.
Commoners and rural villagers, who comprised more than 90% of the population, rarely left the villages or farmsteads where they were born.
Legacy
The Qin, despite existing for only 14 years, are credited with inaugurating the Chinese imperial system, which would persist in some form throughout Chinese history until it was ultimately overthrown by the Xinhai Revolution in 1911.
During the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, Han dynasty scholars began portraying the Qin as a monolithic, legalist tyranny, often invoked as an example of bad governance in contemporary debates about imperial policy. In particular, purges in 213 and 212 BC collectively known as the burning of books and burying of scholars are frequently cited to this end; however, the earliest account of these events is contained in the Shiji (c. 91 BC), and its veracity is disputed by some modern scholars.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Qin dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Qin Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Xianyang |
|---|---|
| Form of government | absolute monarchy |
| Founded | 221 BCE |
| Dissolved | 206 BCE |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- Western Chu
- Jiujiang
- Yong
- Sai
- Zhai
- Western Wei
Facts from Wikidata Q7183 (CC0).
Qin Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 2,132,724 km² in 210 BCE.
Qin Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Qin Dynasty exist?
The Qin Dynasty is dated to 218 BCE – 209 BCE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Qin Dynasty?
The capital of the Qin Dynasty was Xianyang.
How large was the Qin Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 210 BC the Qin Dynasty covered about 2,132,724 km².