Analysing Sources

Learning Goal: Students will be able to identify and describe

points of view, attitudes and values in primary and secondary
sources.
Success Criteria: I can examine sources to explain points of view
on Qin Shi Huang.
 Quick Write
• Write about 2 positive and 2 negative changes created by Qin Shi Huang.
• Explain why these changes were positive or negative.
 Review of Negative Changes
Negative Change Why might this be considered negative?
• Sent armies south to conquer southern China • Captured land of previous free people
•
• Confiscated all weapons • It took away the people’s power
•
• Banished nobles of conquered states • People did not have freedom of movement
or speech
•
 Review of Negative Changes
Negative Change Why might this be considered negative?
• Forced nobles to live in his capital • People did not have freedom of movement
or speech
• Did not allow people choice
• Public burning of the books • Destruction of education and religious
materials
• Control of population
• Executed scholars and followers of Confucius • Harsh rule
• Control by force
 Review of Positive Changes
Positive Change Why might this be considered positive?
• Separate states were replaced with central • Consistent law enforcement – improved
rule and 1 set of laws running of the country
• Could introduce government system
• Single form of writing • Communication and record keeping was
consistent
• Trade became more efficient
• Single form of currency • Trade became more efficient
• The government could tax people more
easily
 Review of Positive Changes
Positive Change Why might this be considered positive?
• Single system of weights and measures • Trade became more efficient
• The government could tax people more
easily
• New capital was built and roads were built to • People could move around the country more
unite the country easily
•
• All carts to have the same axle width • Travel became easier as all carts could use
the same roads
• Trading became more widespread and
efficient
 How did the Qin Dynasty fall?
• At the age of 49, Qin Shi Huang died while on a journey.
• For a while, his chief minister and others pretended that he was still alive.
This gave them time to forge a decree that would place their choice of
successor on the throne. His body started to smell, so his chief minister
ordered a cart of rotting fish to follow the imperial carriage and disguise
the smell.
• Only later did they announce the emperor’s death, which was possibly
due to poisoning by mercury, commonly used in ‘immortality’ drugs.
 Terracotta Warriors
• About 8,000 terracotta warriors guarded Qin
Shi Huang’s tomb to protect him in the
afterlife.
• (Terracotta is a type of clay which is then fired
in a kiln).
• Each warrior was made to look individual and
life-size, as Emperor Qin wanted a large,
functioning army in the afterlife. They varied
in height, uniform and hair style, depending
on their rank.
 Terracotta Warriors
• They originally had real weapons, but it is
thought that these were either stolen or
rotted away.
• They were also originally painted, but the
paint chipped away after thousands of years.
• There were around 600 bronze horses and
130 chariots also included in this army.
• The army was discovered in 1974 by farmers
who were digging a well.
 Source Analysis
• In pairs or by yourself, read the following sources and decide whether
each source depicts Qin Shi Huang as a tyrant or a visionary.
• A tyrant is an unfair and harsh ruler.
• A visionary is a ruler who sees great future for their country and does everything
they can to achieve it.
• Highlight in red any information that makes Qin Shi Huang seem like a
tyrant, and highlight in green anything that portrays him as a visionary.
See the example on the next slide.
Source 1: Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom
(Modern historians)
In their evaluation of the Qin Emperor, de Bary and Bloom acknowledge that he
had a number of virtues, including his almost ‘demonic’ energy and his willingness
to work exceptionally hard to establish the power of China. He demonstrated that
he had a great ‘vision’ for the country and he was willing to fulfil this vision by
directing projects himself. These projects included massive building works, like his
magnificent palaces, and military campaigns. He kept a keen eye on his domain by
making regular inspection tours to all parts of the country. China had become a
great and powerful nation.
Overall, this source presents Qin Shi Huang as a visionary.
Source 2: Sima Qian, an Ancient historian
The King of Qin, with his arched nose and long eyes, puffed-out chest like a
hawk and the voice of a jackal, is a man of scant mercy who has the heart of
a tiger or a wolf. When he is in difficulty he readily humbles himself before
others, but when he has gotten his way, then he thinks nothing of eating
others alive.
Overall, this source presents Qin Shi Huang as a ___________.
Source 3: Map of a divided China vs. Qin
Dynasty territory
Qin Shi Huang is given credit for
uniting China for the first time in its
history. Before Qin Shi Huang, China
had been divided into a number of
states that were constantly at war
with each other.
When the different states were
united, the rights and freedoms of
different groups of people who were
absorbed into the Qin dynasty’s
territories were denied.
Overall, this source presents Qin Shi
Huang as a ___________.
Source 4: Sima Qian, an Ancient historian
In his history, Sima Qian explains that the whole country has been brought
together as one and it has been efficiently organised into military and
administrative districts. He explains that members of the royal household
have been honoured and government ministers have been appointed on
the basis of their worth, not their family connections. They have received
generous rewards for their services.
Overall, this source presents Qin Shi Huang as a ___________.
Source 5: Standardising weights and
measures

Overall, this source presents Qin Shi Huang as a ___________.

Source 6: Advice from legalist Li Si, to Qin Shi
Huang
I, your servant, propose that all historians’ records other than those of Qin’s be
burned. With the exception of the academics whose duty includes possessing
books, if anyone under heaven has copies of the Shi Jing, the Classic of History, or
the writings of the hundred schools of philosophy, they shall deliver them (the
books) to the governor or the commandant for burning. Anyone who dares to
discuss the Shi Jing or the Classic of History shall be publicly executed. Anyone who
uses history to criticize the present shall have his family executed. Any official who
sees the violations but fails to report them is equally guilty. Anyone who has failed
to burn the books after thirty days of this announcement shall be subjected to
tattooing and be sent to build the Great Wall.
Overall, this source presents Qin Shi Huang as a ___________.
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
1. Topic sentence: Answer the question with your point of view on whether
Emperor Qin was a visionary or a tyrant.
Although Emperor Qin achieved many things during his reign, he is largely
considered to be a tyrant.
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
2. Elaboration: In your own words, explain why you think he was a visionary
or a tyrant.
This is due to his controlling methods of ruling.
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
3. Example: Quote a source which supports your point of view.
In Source 6, Li Si states that “all records [were to] be burned” or delivered to
the government, and that anyone who fails to comply will either be publicly
executed or sent to build the Great Wall.
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
4. Analysis: What does this show or suggest about Emperor Qin?
This proves that Emperor Qin was a harsh ruler who wanted to control
people’s access to education.
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
5. Example: Quote another source which supports your point of view.
Source 3 states that “the rights and freedoms of different groups…were
denied.”
 Example Extended Response: Was Emperor
Qin a visionary or a tyrant?
6. Analysis/Link: What does this show or suggest about Emperor Qin? Link
back to the question.
This source supports the idea that he was a tyrant and is remembered as a
negative ruler.
 Your turn!
Write an extended response on whether Emperor Qin was a visionary or a
tyrant.
You should refer to 2 sources from the ones provided to justify your point of
view.