The Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) was the first dynasty of Imperial China (defined as the era of centralized, dynastic government in China between 221 BCE and 1912 CE) which united the separate states following the Warring States Period (c. 481-221 BCE), the era of near-constant warfare resulting from the decline of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).
More about: Qin DynastyDefinition
Timeline
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259 BCE - 210 BCELife of Ying Zheng of Qin, Shi Huangdi, First Emperor of China.
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c. 246 BCE - c. 247 BCEPrince Ying Zheng becomes King of Qin, age 12 or 13.
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230 BCE - 221 BCEKing Ying Zheng of Qin defeats the other warring states, claims Mandate of Heaven to rule China.
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221 BCEKing Ying Zheng assumes the title Shi Huangdi, First Emperor of China. Founds Qin Dynasty.
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221 BCE - 206 BCEThe Qin Dynasty in China.
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c. 221 BCEConstruction of Northern Frontier wall by Shi Huangdi, First Emperor of China, precursor to Great Wall.
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c. 218 BCEConstruction of the Great Wall of China is initiated.
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213 BCE - 206 BCEQin Dynasty elevates Legalism as state philosophy and bans all others.
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c. 213 BCE - 210 BCEShi Huangdi increasingly obsessed with death and immortality.
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210 BCEFirst Emperor of China Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8,000 terracotta warriors in palace tomb.
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202 BCEThe Battle of Gaixia, Chu forces defeated by the Han.