Dates That Made History
221 BC - Founding of the Chinese Empire
TV-PG
S3 • E15 Oct 26, 2025 27mIn 221 BC, the king of Qin, a small state on the western edge of China, defeated the Warring States period and unified the Chinese Empire. Tradition has made this first emperor the founder of a political system that presents itself as immutable. But when did this date come into being? Since when has 221 BC been considered the year zero of imperial China?
