I don’t think Qin was an effective Ruler. He followed Legalism and is very, very harsh. He united Ancient China, built the Great Wall of China, and built a really big tomb with the terra-cotta army. Not like that will change my mind. All the terra-cotta army did was create an amazing tourist attraction. Building the Great Wall and uniting China? Other people could do that. Like the Han dynasty.

     He banned Confucianism just because one Confucian soldier threatened him. He buried about 460 scholars for plotting against him. Also burying them up to their necks then beheading them. What can a Confucian scholar DO? It’s not like they’re going to kill him. Confucianism is good behavior. Killing isn’t proper behavior. He even burned all the books. Poor scholars.

     Making yourself immortal is useless. Yes, you’ll probably be VERY powerful. But since you are SO HARSH, no one wants you to be able to live forever. They’ll eventually get angry and kill themselves. Then other people can easily conquer your huge country. HAHA. Then you’ll keep sulking and then you can’t die to end you’re disappointment. The terra-cotta army didn’t do anything to help Qin.

     Following Legalism is no bad. But the way Qin ruled is just WAY TOO HARSH. It made his empire fall much earlier. It fell shortly after Qin died. There were rebellions. Then a peasant ruler managed to defeat his rivals and created the Han dynasty.

     This is, in my opinion, why Qin was a horrible, and ineffective ruler.