The Legacy of the Qin Dynasty

The Legacy of the Qin Dynasty The Qin Dynasty, pronounced like chin, emerged in 221 BCE. Qin Shihuang, the king of the Qin state at the time, conquered the many feudal territories vying for influence during the bloody Warring States period. He then united them all under one rule, thus putting an end to the notoriously violent chapter in Chinese history that lasted for 200 years. Qin Shihuang was only 38 years old when he came into power. He created the title Emperor (  Ã§Å¡â€¡Ã¥ ¸ ,  Ã‚  hungdà ¬) for himself, and thus is known as  the first emperor of China. While his dynasty only lasted 15 years, the shortest dynastic rule in Chinese history, the impact of the Qin Emperor on China cannot be understated. Although highly controversial, Qin Dynasty policies were very influential in uniting China and maintaining power. The Qin Emperor was famously obsessed with immortality and even spent years trying to find an elixir to eternal life. Though he ultimately died, it would seem that Qin’s quest to live forever was ultimately granted – his practices and policies were carried into the subsequent Han Dynasty and continue to flourish in present-day China.   Here are just a few remnants of Qin’s legacy.   Central Rule The dynasty adhered to Legalist principles, which is a Chinese philosophy that followed strict compliance with  the rule of law. This belief allowed Qin to rule the population from a centralized power structure and proved to be a very effective way to govern. Such a policy, however, did not allow for dissent. Anyone who protested Qins power was quickly and brutally silenced or killed off.   Written Script   Qin instituted a uniform written language. Before then, different regions in China had different languages, dialects, and writing systems. Imposing a universal written language allowed for better communication and implementation of policies. For example, a singular script allowed scholars to share information with a greater number of people. It also led to the sharing of culture that was previously only experienced by a few. Additionally, a single language allowed later dynasties to communicate with nomadic tribes and pass along information on how to negotiate or fight with them. Roads The construction of roads allowed for greater connections between provinces and major cities. The dynasty also standardized the length of axles in carts so that they could all ride on the newly-built roads. Weights and Measures The dynasty standardized all weights and measures, which led to more efficient commerce. This conversion also allowed subsequent dynasties to develop a taxation system. Coinage In another effort to unify the empire, the Qin Dynasty standardized the Chinese currency. Doing so led to greater commerce across more regions.   The Great Wall The Qin Dynasty was responsible for the construction of the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall marked national boundaries and acted as a defensive infrastructure to protect against invading nomadic tribes from the north. However, later dynasties were more expansionist and built beyond Qin’s original wall. Today, the Great Wall of China is easily one of Chinas most iconic pieces of architecture. Terracotta Warriors   Another architectural feat that draws tourists to China is the enormous tomb in present-day Xian filled with terracotta warriors. This is also a part of Qin Shihuangs legacy. When Qin Shihuang died, he was buried in a tomb accompanied by an army of hundreds of thousands of terracotta soldiers that were supposed to protect him in his afterlife. The tomb was uncovered by farmers  digging for a well in 1974.   Strong Personality One other lasting impact of the Qin Dynasty is the influence of a leader’s personality in China. Qin Shihuang’s relied on his top-down method of ruling, and, on the whole, people conformed to his rule because of the power of his personality. Many subjects followed Qin because he showed them something larger than their local kingdomsa visionary idea of a cohesive nation-state. While this is a very effective way to rule, once the leader dies, so can his dynasty. After Qin Shihuang’s death in 210 BCE, his son, and later his grandson, took power, but both were short-lived. The Qin Dynasty came to a close in 206 BCE, just four years after Qin Shihuang’s death. Almost immediately following his death, the same warring states that he unified sprang up again and China was again under numerous leaders until it was unified under the  Han Dynasty. The Han would last over 400 years, but much of its practices were started in the Qin Dynasty. Similarities in charismatic cult personalities can be seen in subsequent leaders in Chinese history, such as Chairman Mao Zedong. In fact, Mao actually likened himself to Emperor Qin.   Representation in Pop Culture Qin was  popularized in Eastern and Western media in Chinese Director Zhang Yimou’s 2002 film Hero. While some criticized the movie for advocating totalitarianism, movie-goers went to see it in droves. A hit in China and Hong Kong, when it opened to North American audiences in 2004, it was the number one movie and grossed $18 million in its opening weekend – a rarity for a foreign film.

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region if you’re looking for a career change (or a change of scenery!), here are some of the fastest-growing jobs for 2016 in the mountain-plains part of the unites states. per the u.s. bureau of labor statistics, this region includes colorado, kansas, missouri, montana, utah, and wyoming. when you hear the lines, â€Å"o beautiful for spacious skies,/for amber waves of grain,/for purple mountain majesties/above the fruited plain!† in â€Å"america the beautiful,† chance are you’re thinking of u.s. heartland states like the mountain-plains region. once known for its prairie spirit, the region’s population is growing as the former frontier cities turn into (or grow their existing status as) major hubs.tech job outlook: technical support specialistsutah and colorado might be better known for mountain vistas and film festivals, but cities like provo and fort collins are fast becoming booming tech communities, with companies like hewlett packard, intel, and nu merous startups staking a claim. as technology companies expand operations in the region, tech support specialists are in high demand. these specialists help customers and companies troubleshoot computer software and equipment, and are often the front lines of defense when tech goes wrong.a bachelor’s degree is frequently required, but some openings require an associate’s degree or specialized classes. the median salary for these support specialists is $50,380 a year, with a faster-than-average 12% growth expected.administrative job outlook: actuaryactuaries are an essential part of many industries, but especially the insurance field. they use statistics, math, and financial theory to forecast financial risk, make predictions for their company, and then plan how to minimize that risk.the actuarial field usually requires a bachelor’s degree and offers on-the-job training for new hires. the median salary is $96,700 per year, with robust expected growth of 18%.othe r jobs like data entry specialist are easy to find, but not as much potential in term of promotion and learning.logistics job outlook: truck driverper an npr poll in 2014, the most common jobs in missouri in 1978, 1996, and 2014 were truck, delivery, and tractor drivers. that consistency doesn’t seem likely to shift soon- this region is a hotbed of distribution activity, and this trend will keep on truckin’ in 2016 and beyond.the median salary for truck drivers is $38,200, and the field is expected to grow by at least 11% by 2022.healthcare job outlook: emts and paramedicsthere are often shortages of qualified medical personnel, and no career path sees that as much as front-line emergency medical technicians (emts) and paramedics. these vital professionals offer emergency care for illness and injury, and are often the first responders in a variety of emergency situations.demand for these emergency workers is expected to increase by at least 24% in the coming years, and the median salary is $31,700. if you thrive on high-pressure situations and aren’t squeamish at the sight of blood, this can be a very strong career choice.service job outlook: nanny/childcare workeras the number of households with both parents working continues to increase, so do the needs for quality childcare. this field is especially trending in urban areas, as families look for alternatives to traditional daycare options. nannies and childcare workers are responsible for the daily care of children, and in cases of individual family employment, may also help run the household on a daily basis. the median salary is $28,000, with 5-10% growth anticipated in the coming years.so remember: while you’re seeking out those fruited plains and purple mountain majesties, there are many promising career options available to you.