CHAPTER 6: Early Imperial China
Worksheet 6.5
The first emperor Skills C
Retroactive 7: pages 188–9
Student: ……………………………………………………..………… Class: …….……………. Due date: …….……………….……
Identifying different perspectives
It is important not to take sources at face value and understand that even
historians have their own perspectives and biases when they write their
histories. Sima Qian (c. 145–88 BCE) was China’s first great historian. He
was a palace official under the Han Dynasty, which followed the Qin (the
dynasty that the first emperor established) in 202 BCE. He wrote his history
of China about 100 years after the death of the first emperor. He had access
to the best sources — the imperial records of the Qin. However, new
dynasties often criticised the dynasty that they replaced to make themselves ¾ Sima Qian
look good and emphasise their right to rule. In addition, Sima Qian fell out of favour with his Han
Emperor Wudi and was sentenced to death or castration. He chose to be castrated so that he could finish
his work. Many historians believe that Sima Qian’s criticisms of the first emperor may be secretly
directed at his own emperor because of his mistreatment by him.
Source 1 Extracts from Shiji (Records of the Historian), written by Sima Qian (c. 145–88 BCE)
The First Emperor trusted his own judgement, never consulting others,
and hence his errors went uncorrected . . . Thereupon, he discarded the
ways of the former kings and burned the books of the hundred schools of
philosophy in order to make the black-headed people ignorant. He
destroyed the walls of the great cities, put to death the powerful leaders,
and collected all the arms of the empire, which he had brought to his
capital at Xianyang, where the spears and arrowheads were melted down
and cast to make twelve human statues. All this he did in order to weaken
the black-headed people . . . Then Qin faced south to call itself ruler of
the empire, which meant that the world now had a Son of Heaven to head
it. The masses hoped that they would be granted the peace and security to
live out their lives . . . But the First Emperor was greedy and short-
sighted, confident in his own wisdom, never trusting his meritorious
officials, never getting to know his people. He cast aside the kingly way
and relied on private procedures, outlawing books and writings, making
the laws and penalties much harsher, putting deceit and force foremost
and humanity and righteousness last, leading the whole world in violence
and cruelty . . . Qin put an end to the Warring States period and made
itself ruler of the empire, but it did not change its ways or reform its
system of government . . . and, therefore, its downfall was merely a
matter of time.
© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd Retroactive 7: Australian Curriculum for History Student Workbook
CHAPTER 6: Early Imperial China PAGE 2
Worksheet 6.5
1 What is the subject or main idea of the source?
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
2 Who created the source?
...................................................................................................................................................................
3 Why was it written?
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
4 Does it try to persuade and if so how does it do this?
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
5 Explain why a source like this could not have been written during the reign of the First Emperor.
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
6 Is this source a trustworthy (reliable) account of the First Emperor? Why or why not?
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
Retroactive 7: Australian Curriculum for History Student Workbook © John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
