Achievements of the qin dynasty
The Qin Dynasty brought about a great deal of changes which
would influence the society for years to come. Some of the changes included the
standardisation of writing, measurements and currency, as well as a number of
building projects.
The writing system throughout the whole of China was standardised. In the Warring States period, before the Qin Dynasty, each region in China had different characters and writing (Ouellette, 2010). After all of the states were unified, modifications were made to the Qin system of writing, and this was then circulated throughout the country (Ouellette, 2010). The purpose of standardising the form of writing was to unify the states and once all areas of the land began using the new way of writing, people from different regions had the capability to communicate (Ouellette, 2010). All of the other systems of writing were abolished after the new style of writing was established (Ouellette, 2010). The standardisation of writing was one of the most noteworthy legacies left by the Qin as it perpetually brought together people from all different regions that, until writing was standardised, had no means of communicating. For this reason, it is one of the only reforms that endured the test of time.
The writing system throughout the whole of China was standardised. In the Warring States period, before the Qin Dynasty, each region in China had different characters and writing (Ouellette, 2010). After all of the states were unified, modifications were made to the Qin system of writing, and this was then circulated throughout the country (Ouellette, 2010). The purpose of standardising the form of writing was to unify the states and once all areas of the land began using the new way of writing, people from different regions had the capability to communicate (Ouellette, 2010). All of the other systems of writing were abolished after the new style of writing was established (Ouellette, 2010). The standardisation of writing was one of the most noteworthy legacies left by the Qin as it perpetually brought together people from all different regions that, until writing was standardised, had no means of communicating. For this reason, it is one of the only reforms that endured the test of time.
Other significant reforms included the standardisation of
weights and measurements, as well one type of currency which was distributed
and became used throughout the entire country (The Saylor Foundation, 2012). A number of other
objects were standardised, including the size of an axel on a chariot and the
width of roads (The Saylor Foundation, 2012).
Emperor Qin Shi Huang also began many impressive building
projects. After conflict with nomad tribes in the north of China, he ordered a
large defensive wall to be constructed (The Saylor Foundation, 2012). This formed the
foundation of what would later become one of China’s most iconic structures,
the Great Wall of China (The Saylor Foundation, 2012). Another building
project constructed was the Lingqu Canal, which joined the two rivers of Xiang
and Li, which allowed for more convenient transportation of both supplies and
soldiers (The Saylor Foundation, 2012). However, in the
assembly of these projects, thousands of the labourers died, largely due to the
time frame in which the Emperor wished to have the projects completed (The Saylor Foundation, 2012). However, this
supported the values of Legalism in that the good of the state came before the
individual subjects. Another notable building project was the Terracotta
Warriors. Emperor Qin Shi Huang built a tomb for himself, filled with thousands
of terracotta soldiers armed with real weapons, for the purpose of protecting
the Emperor in the afterlife (The Saylor Foundation, 2012).