Was Qin Shi Huang A Hero Or Tyrant?

Qin Shi Huang, the first ruler of the Qin dynasty, led the way to creating a powerful nation. Before then, citizens were suffering from wars due to constant vying for power between the Warring States. Finally, in 221 B.C., the King of Qin unified the empire mainly through aggressive military power with the help of social reforms, including standardizing mathematical measures and formalizing a Chinese writing system, which revolutionized the Chinese civilization. During his rule, Qin Shi Huang also worked on establishing a bureaucratic government, enforcing strict rules, creating clear social rankings, constructing extravagant architectures, and building a renowned reputation for himself. The Qin Dynasty featured a strong centralization and

The birth of the emperor remains a myth since no one knew exactly who the birth father of Qin Shi Huang was; some said it was the former King of Qin, others believed that his mother had already been impregnated by someone else before she met the King of Qin. Although Qin Shi Huang’s birth is a mystery, it did not stop his ambitions from conquering the other Chinese states. He had a vision about unifying the nation by creating a standard writing system, a centralized government, and an aggressive army to protect him from various attempts of assassination. Just because of his eagerness to succeed, Qin Shi Huang had to live in constant fear as seen in historical accounts, as “ the roads connecting his many palaces were protected by high walls” (Sullivan 65). Furthermore, he dedicated his resources into finding pills that would allow him to be immortal, but according to those accounts, “he died due to ingesting mercury pills, made by his alchemists and court physicians. Ironically, these pills were meant to make Qin Shi Huang immortal” (“Qin Shi Huang”). Even though he could not reign forever, what he contributed to the Chinese civilization politically and socially was