Works Cited
about.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2012.
<http://archaeology.about.com/od/qterms/g/qin.htm>. The Qin Dynasty
[221-206 BC], while only fifteen years in duration and only including three
emperors, was one of the most important and influential of periods in Chinese
history. The first emperor Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) united the “Warring Tribes,”
creating the rudimentary elements of a united China. Other achievements of the
Qin dynasty include strengthening the Great Wall, and standardizing currency
and language. The army of terra cotta soldiers also dates to the Qin dynasty;
they were found in the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb. The harshness of the Qin
regime led to its downfall the year after Shihuangdi’s death.
wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. Weapons such as
swords, spears, battle-axe, scimitars, shields, crossbows and arrowheads were
found at the pits of the terracotta warriors.[21][29] Some of these weapons
such as the swords are still very sharp and found to be coated with chromium
oxide. This layer of chromium oxide is 10–15 micrometre thick and has kept the
swords rust-free and in pristine condition after 2,000 years.[30][31][32]
Chromium only came to the attention of westerners in the 18th century.[33] Many
swords contain an alloy of copper, tin and other elements including nickel,
magnesium, and cobalt.[34] A Qin crossbow arrow is estimated to have a range of
800 metres.
wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. The
Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses”, is a collection of
terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor
of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC
and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from 3rd century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some
local farmers in Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, near the Mausoleum
of the First Qin Emperor (Chinese:
秦始皇陵; pinyin: Qín Shǐhuáng
Ling).
The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest
being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current
estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were
over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the
majority of which are still buried in the pits.[1] Other terracotta
non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials,
acrobats, strongmen and musicians.
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