Was Qin Shi Huangdi an effective ruler?

Answer 1

This is a question asked by many. There are points that point to "no" and to "yes", but I think he was an effective ruler. He unified China for the first time during the Period of Warring States, an really important fact. While ruling he standardized weights, measures, Chinese script, and coin money. As well as this, he started to build the Great Wall of China (it was finished during the Han dynasty) to protect the country from the Xiongnu Confederacy to the north, and built the Lingqu canal, still used today. It links the Yangtze River and the Pearl River. Also worth mentioning, he created many roads to allow for trade. His creation of the Terra Cotta army helped historians realize the ranks in the army, how they dressed, their formations, and many other things. He enforced his rule with the Legalist school of thought, which promoted devotion to the government. Shi Huangdi also created a strong bureaucracy for his rule. In conclusion, Shi Huangdi was a very effective leader.