See History Through Civilization - Qin Shi Huang

See the history of Qin Shi Huang through Civilization VI

Series introduction

This series uses Civilization VI, a history-based game, to explain the historical background and stories behind each civilization. It is not chronological; it just supplements knowledge in a scattered way.

These are posts I wrote for my high school class account and republished on my personal blog.

Civilization VI introduction

Civilization VI is a historical turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. Players build an empire and stand the test of time. You guide your civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age and try to become a world leader. Along the way, you wage wars, conduct diplomacy, promote culture, and face many historical leaders.

See Qin history through Civilization

Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng (259 BC - 210 BC), was a famous Chinese politician, strategist, and reformer. He completed the unification of China with an iron hand and became the first ruler to take the title of emperor.

We can learn a lot from the overview above.

Quote: You unified China

As everyone knows, before Qin was the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Long wars brought huge disasters, and people longed for stability and unity. Regional economic development required breaking political fragmentation. These were objective conditions for unification.

For Qin itself, the main reasons were:

• Geography: favorable location and strong material base.
• People: generations of Qin rulers worked hard, recruited talent, and kept relatively clean governance. After Shang Yang’s reforms, Qin respected Legalism, rewarded farming and warfare, and grew stronger.

In Qin’s traits in Civilization VI, there is a bonus to Eureka and Inspiration. If you are not familiar with the game, you can understand these as boosts to science and culture. In other words, Qin’s science and culture progress faster.

Historically, after unification, Qin established the Three Lords and Nine Ministers system at the center and the commandery-county system locally, greatly strengthening centralization. The political system Qin established was used for a long time by later dynasties and had a far-reaching influence.

Second, in technology and the economy, Qin unified the script, axle width, currency, and weights and measures. These reforms boosted development.

Quote: People from all over come to admire the Great Wall

In Civilization VI, Qin has a unique “Great Wall” improvement.

After Qin unified the six states in 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang ordered large-scale Great Wall construction in the north in his 32nd year (215 BC) to defend against the Xiongnu. The Qin Great Wall was built on the foundations of the Qin, Zhao, and Yan walls from the Warring States period. It started from Lintao (now Min County, Gansu) in the west and ended at the Yalu River (now eastern and southern Liaoning and southeastern Jilin), totaling over 10,000 li. It was thus called the “Ten-Thousand-Li Great Wall.”

In the game, the Great Wall mainly increases attack strength, which is easy to understand since it was built to resist foreign enemies.

The Great Wall in the game also adds culture and gold. This is because the Great Wall, beyond its military role, also promoted trade and communication. The Great Wall line reflected the relationship and unity between ancient agricultural and pastoral economies and cultures.

We can also see that the Great Wall adds tourism yields. As a cultural heritage site, it attracts many visitors. In October 2022, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released 8 national Great Wall-themed routes and 62 curated routes, showcasing resources along the Great Wall and presenting its beauty.

Quote: People worked hard and soon built the most awe-inspiring structure. May their hands never blister.

This corresponds to another ability in the game: you can expend builders to add wonder progress.

After unification, Qin Shi Huang became extravagant and launched massive construction of palaces and tombs.

The most typical example is the Terracotta Army. Qin Shi Huang began building his mausoleum (including the Terracotta Army) after ascending the throne at age 13, likely around 246 or 247 BC. Construction lasted 39 years and was completed in 208 BC, consuming enormous manpower and resources. This planted hidden dangers for Qin’s downfall.

Qin’s downfall

Beyond massive construction, Qin’s harsh autocracy – severe punishments and the burning of books and burying of scholars – led to its swift collapse.