This sweeping history spans the Warring States period through the end of the Qin dynasty. As the Zhou royal house declined, Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the first to challenge its authority. The rivalry between Jin and Chu and Duke Huan of Qi's policy of "honoring the king and repelling the barbarians" laid the foundations for the Warring States order. After the Three Families Partitioned Jin and the Tian clan replaced Qi, seven states stood as powers in their own right. Each pursued strength through reform, with the changes made by Li Kui, Wu Qi, Shang Yang, and others leaving a deep mark. Su Qin and Zhang Yi maneuvered among the states, while the battles of Guiling and Maling showcased the art of war. King Zhaoxiang of Qin pursued a strategy of "allying with distant states and attacking nearby ones," and the Battle of Changping dealt Zhao a devastating blow.
Lu Buwei backed King Zhuangxiang of Qin, clearing the way for the state's growth. Ying Zheng took power and unified the six states, establishing the Qin dynasty. But tyranny grew ever worse in Qin's later years, provoking peasant uprisings. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang launched the first rebellion, Xiang Yu defeated Qin at Julu, and Liu Bang reached Xianyang first. After Qin fell, Chu and Han fought for supremacy, and Liu Bang emerged victorious to found the Han dynasty. With vivid prose, this book brings the tumult of history to life and analyzes the forces that shaped the era, offering an excellent account of the rise and fall of the Warring States and Qin dynasties.
