State of Qin
The State of Qin was a western Zhou-era Chinese polity that unified the Warring States and founded the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE.
Shang Yang reforms: A set of fourth-century BCE Qin reforms that strengthened centralized government, military service, and agricultural production. They reorganized Qin’s state and society, supplying the administrative and military capacity behind its expansion.
Zhou dynasty: A Chinese dynasty that ruled from about 1046 to 256 BCE and established the political order from which many states emerged. Qin began as a Zhou vassal state within the political world the dynasty created.
Qin Shi Huang: The king of Qin who unified China in 221 BCE and became its first emperor. He completed the state’s conquests and converted Qin rule into an empire.
Battle of Changping: A major battle in 260 BCE in which Qin defeated Zhao during the Warring States period. The defeat severely weakened one of Qin’s strongest rivals and opened routes for further expansion.
Warring States period: A period of competing Chinese states, conventionally dated from 475 to 221 BCE, ending with Qin unification. Qin’s rise unfolded within this contest and brought it to an end.
Qin legalism: A governing approach that relied on codified laws, rewards, punishments, and centralized authority. Qin rulers used strict law and administrative control to mobilize people and govern conquered lands.
Duke Xiao of Qin: A Qin ruler from 361 to 338 BCE who sponsored Shang Yang’s reforms. His support made the reforms that transformed Qin’s political and military capacity possible.
Shang Yang: A statesman who served Qin in the fourth century BCE and implemented major legal and administrative reforms. His reforms reshaped Qin’s institutions under Duke Xiao.
Conquest of Shu: Qin’s annexation of the states of Shu and Ba in the fourth century BCE. These southwestern territories added resources and strategic depth to Qin’s growing power.
Qin standardization: The empire-wide adoption of common standards for script, measures, currency, and other systems under Qin rule. Qin imposed shared standards after conquest to make a vast territory more governable.