The Qin dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, established when the king of Qin completed the conquest of the rival states and took the title of First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It standardised writing, weights and measures, currency and the width of cart axles across the empire, and it divided the land into administrative districts governed by appointed officials, based on the ideas of Legalism. Large public works were built, including roads, canals and connected fortifications that were the forerunner of the Great Wall, and the First Emperor's burial complex contained the Terracotta Army. The regime was harsh, and revolts broke out soon after the emperor's death. The dynasty fell within a few years, and the Han dynasty took its place.
Before and after
- c. 241 BCEEratosthenes measures the size of the Earth
- 241 BCEChinese astronomers record Halley's Comet
- from 240 BCE to 238 BCEMercenary War
- 232 BCEDeath of Ashoka
- from 221 BCE to 206 BCEQin dynasty
- from May 219 BCE to December 219 BCESiege of Saguntum
- from 218 BCE to 201 BCESecond Punic War
- 217 BCEHannibal destroys the Roman army at Cannae
- 214 BCEBattle of Beneventum
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- from c. 753 BCE to 476 CEAncient Rome
- 323 BCEConstruction of Temple of Ephesian Artemis
- from 312 BCE to 63 BCESeleucid Empire
- from 279 BCE to 1480Construction of Lighthouse of Alexandria
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century BCE.