claim: There was a uniform system of writing established in the Qin dynasty.
evidence: The Qin dynasty was the first dynasty of Imperial China , lasting from 221 to 206 BC .. Imperial. Imperial era of Chinese history. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. Imperial China. Imperial China. Named for its heartland of Qin , in modern-day Gansu and Shaanxi , the dynasty was formed after the conquest of six other states by the Qin state , and its founding emperor named Qin Shi Huang , the First Emperor of Qin .. Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang. Emperor. List of rulers of China#Qin dynasty. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. Gansu. Gansu. Shaanxi. Shaanxi. six other states. Seven Warring States. Qin state. Qin state. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the `` Legalist '' reforms of Shang Yang in the fourth century BC , during the Warring States period .. Qin state. Qin state. Shang Yang. Shang Yang. Warring States period. Warring States period. In the mid and late third century BC , the Qin accomplished a series of swift conquests , first ending the powerless Zhou dynasty , and eventually conquering the other six of the Seven Warring States to gain control over the whole of China .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. Zhou dynasty. Zhou dynasty. Seven Warring States. Seven Warring States. It is also the shortest dynasty in Chinese history , lasting only 15 years with two emperors .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. Far from monolithic and demonstrating a sophisticated political outlook , excavated Qin texts show a more pragmatic and eclectic approach than a reading of traditional accounts of Shang Yang would suggest .. Shang Yang. Shang Yang. Qin administration was by no means purely punitive , and was not harsher than was generally prevalent at the time .. The Qin were not doctrinaire .. Though often anathema to Legalist philosophy , Confucianism and its values too coexisted with `` Legalism '' during the reign of the First Emperor .. Legalism. Legalism ( Chinese philosophy ). Emperor. List of rulers of China#Qin dynasty. Qin administrative documents considered such matters as filial piety , and one circulated letter reads that `` The purpose of all standards -LRB- fa -RRB- ... is to teach and lead the people , rid them of dissoluteness and depravity ... and turn them toward goodness . ''. During its reign over China , the Qin sought to create an imperial state unified by highly structured political power and a stable economy able to support a large military .. The Qin central government sought to minimize the role of aristocrats and landowners and have direct administrative control over the peasantry , who comprised the overwhelming majority of the population , and control over whom would grant the Qin access to a large labor force .. This allowed for the construction of ambitious projects , such as a wall on the northern border , now known as the Great Wall of China .. Great Wall of China. Great Wall of China. For years , local rulers built walls along China 's northern border to protect their villages from invaders , but Emperor Shi Huangdi decided to connect them .. Emperor. List of rulers of China#Qin dynasty. Three hundred thousand peasants and convicts were forced to work on this 1,400 mile wall .. The Qin dynasty introduced several reforms  : currency , weights and measures were standardized , and a uniform system of writing was established .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. The Qin 's military was revolutionary in that it used the most recently developed weaponry , transportation , and tactics , though the government was heavy-handed and bureaucratic .. An attempt to restrict criticism and purge all traces of old dynasties led to the supposed burning of books and burying of scholars later espoused by Confucians .. burning of books and burying of scholars. burning of books and burying of scholars. Despite its military strength , the Qin dynasty did not last long .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. When the first emperor died in 210 BC , a different son was placed on the throne by two of the previous emperor 's advisers , in an attempt to influence and control the administration of the entire dynasty through him .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. The advisors squabbled among themselves , however , resulting in both their deaths and that of the second Qin emperor .. Popular revolt broke out a few years later , and the weakened empire soon fell to a Chu lieutenant , who went on to found the Han dynasty .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. Chu. Chu ( state ). Han dynasty. Han dynasty. Despite its rapid end , the dynasty influenced future Chinese empires , particularly the Han , and the European name for China is thought to be derived from it .. dynasty. Dynasties in Chinese history. European name. China#Etymology