Click on the names to hear how they are pronounced Before the
second century BC seven independent states vied for hegemony in
the period called 'Warring States'. In 247 BC King Zheng came to
the throne and he led the western-most state of Qin to one
military victory after another until total conquest was achieved
in 221 BC. King Zheng subsequently declared that he ruled 'All
Under Heaven' and took an ambitious new title for himself, qin
shihuangdi 'First Emperor of Qin'. The title of Emperor was
previously reserved only for the sage-rulers of myth. Thus with
the first unification of China, the Imperial Age - which would
last more than twenty-one centuries - began. The First Emperor
was determined to impose uniformity throughout China by
maintaining standardisation. The central government at the
capital Xianyang dispatched officials and officers to administer
and control the conquered territories with penalties and
regulations. Criticism of the government was forbidden and
education was provided solely for the