In 246 BC, Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, took the throne at just thirteen years old. As ruler of the first Imperial Empire, he is credited with several accomplishments, including standardized scripts and coins, the construction of the Great Wall, and the overall expansion and unification of the state. To celebrate his triumphs and memorialize his life, he ordered the construction of a necropolis in Xi’an, a region dotted with jade mines and rich in gold. He envisioned a complex mausoleum filled with his precious earthly possessions including rare jewels and architectural models as well as thousands of specially made terracotta soldiers to protect him in the afterlife. Though 7,000 laborers dedicated decades to constructing the over the top tomb and necropolis, the site was left unfinished when Qin died in 210 BC. He left a legacy that would make him a towering figure in Chinese history, he had united warring kingdoms into one country, put an end to feudalism, and built the Great Wall that endures today as a monument to his power.
