Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang, born Ying Zheng, was the first Emperor of China, founder of the Qin Dynasty, and unifier of China in 221 BCE. Known for his legalist reforms, he implemented a centralized bureaucracy, standardized weights and measures, and initiated the construction of the Great Wall and his Terracotta Army. His reign marked the end of the Warring States Period and the beginning of Imperial China, but his rule was characterized by significant cultural and intellectual purging, leading to the infamous burning of books and burying of scholars. He was arrogant, impulsive, and edgy. As the first emperor of China, he saw himself as a divine leader with absolute power, which led him to make decisions without consulting others, including the construction of the Terracotta Army. He had a fascination with immortality and spent lavishly on alchemical experiments. His family background was complex; he had many wives and concubines, but his closest relationship was with his mother, who influenced his early life.