Qin Shi Huang: China's First Emperor
Qin Shi Huang: China's First Emperor
Have you ever wondered who built the Great Wall of China? One of the most important figures in Chinese history is Qin Shi Huang (pronounced Chin Shih Hwang-dee). He was the first emperor of a unified China, and he started the construction of the Great Wall!
Becoming Emperor
Qin Shi Huang was born in 259 BC. His real name was Ying Zheng. He became the king of the Qin state at the young age of 13. The Qin state was one of many kingdoms that were fighting for power in China. Ying Zheng was a very determined leader. He used his army to conquer all the other kingdoms. By 221 BC, he had united them all and declared himself Qin Shi Huang, which means "First Emperor of Qin."
Unifying China
Qin Shi Huang wanted to make sure that China was united and strong. He made many changes. He created a single system of writing so that everyone could understand each other. He also standardized weights and measures, which made trade easier. The emperor created new laws and rules that everyone had to follow. He divided the country into districts, and each district had its own governor. This helped him control the entire country.
The Great Wall
- Unify:
- To bring together into one group or whole.
- Standardize:
- To make things the same or similar.
- Invaders:
- Enemies who enter a country with military force.
- Legacy:
- Something important left behind for future generations.
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- 1Who was Qin Shi Huang?
- 2What did Qin Shi Huang do when he was 13 years old?
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About this biography passage for Upper Elementary
“Qin Shi Huang: China's First Emperor” is a biography reading passage about Ancient History, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (412 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.