The Qin Dynasty lasted from 221 to 207 BC. This dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China. During this period (221 BC), the people of china joined their efforts with the intention of constructing a great nation. They wanted to have a unified nation, free from frequent wars, as witnessed before. To achieve unity, Chinese had to centralize their power of leadership. Some of the people were reluctant towards the centralization of power. The only way out therefore became the use of ruthless methods, focused on the standardization of the legal codes and bureaucratic procedures. Shang Yang, the leader of the dynasty in the 4th century BC, played a crucial role in ensuring that legal reforms goals became realistic (Donn & Maxie's 78).
The establishment of the Qin Dynasty had many benefits to the citizens. First, there was a notable increase in agricultural produce. The dynasty leaders mobilized people to participate in agricultural activities to feed themselves. Secondly, there was an increase in trading activities. In addition, the Qin Dynasty managed to establish a strong-based military security. Its armies were equipped with the advanced weapons. They were also well equipped with tactics that they could use in the event of an attack, to protect their territory from external interference.
It is important to not that costs were incurred as the Qin Dynasty strived to establish itself. Many projects had to be funded, meaning much cost incurred. Some of the major projects involved the construction of the northern wall, and infrastructure, to facilitate easy movements.
Comparing benefits to costs, we can say that the Qin Dynasty achieved its objectives. This is because they managed to improve on trade, agriculture and more so, the security (Shaughnessy 45).
The dead of Qin’s emperor in 210 BC was a major blow to the Dynasty. His son took over the power, but could not manage since many of his fathers’ advisors became overpowered by greed. Despite the collapse of the Dynasty, there was a legacy left, which influenced the future empires.
Works Cited
Mr. Donn and Maxie's. Ancient China, Always Something You Can Use Series,Social Studies,
2003. Print.
Shaughnessy, Edward. Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient China Civilizations of the
World; The Rosen Publishing Group, 2009. Print.
