Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor Who Unified China (259-210 BC)

Qin Shi Huang, born in 259 BC, was the first emperor of a unified China, founding the Qin dynasty in 221 BC and ruling until his death in 210 BC. He is renowned for initiating the construction of the Great Wall of China and for his part in unifying the various warring states through military conquest and political reform. Qin Shi Huang implemented sweeping changes, including standardizing weights, measures, and the writing system, to consolidate his control and integrate the newly unified nation. He also ordered the burning of books and burying of scholars to suppress intellectual dissent, aiming to solidify his regime and the legalist philosophy it was based on. Despite his controversial legacy, Qin Shi Huang's radical policies and monumental projects laid the groundwork for the Chinese imperial structure that lasted for over two millennia.