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Rise to Power T e clay warrior belonged to a man named


Qin Shi Huang Di. So did thousands of other life-size clay figures. T ey include warriors, horses, and acrobats. T e discovery of this buried army near Xian,


China, tells us about Qin’s life—and his death. He lived 2,200 years ago. At the time, China was not one big country. Instead, it was split into seven states. Each state had its own rulers. For 250 years, these seven states fought one


another for control of the land. T eir armies raided villages in other states. T ey burned buildings and killed people. No one won. Qin grew up during this constant war. At 13,


he became king of one of the states. He built a powerful army. T en, at 26, Qin attacked. One by one, Qin’s army conquered the other


This clay warrior remained buried for centuries.


rubs his


fingers over a bump in the dirt. It doesn’t feel like a rock. So he takes out a soſt brush. Slowly and gently, he whisks away layers of dirt. Soon, a face appears. It has red lips, pale skin,


rosy cheeks, and black hair. T en a shoulder emerges. It’s painted purple and blue. T e face and body belong to a life-size


warrior made of clay. It has spent centuries buried underground. Yet it looks almost lifelike, as if it’s waking up from a long sleep. Its looks don’t last long, though. Within


minutes, the colors peel. Flakes of red, black, purple, and blue paint quickly turn to dust. T e sudden exposure to air hurts the paint.


Now, only the orange of baked clay remains. For a moment, though, the warrior provided a glimpse into China’s colorful past.


12 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTREME EXPLORER


states. Within a decade, the seven warring states became a single kingdom. Qin gave himself the title First Emperor.


New Rule According to historians, the emperor used fear


to control his new kingdom. Qin made people spy on one another. T ey had to report any crimes they saw or any complaints they heard about the government. Punishment for breaking the law could be


harsh. Criminals faced hard labor, injury, or even death. At the same time, Qin was a reformer.


Before he took control, each state had its own ways. T ey had their own money, languages, and roads. Qin changed that. He created one kind of money. It could be


used anywhere in the kingdom. He created one simple way of writing. T at way, everyone could read about their new leader. He started the Great Wall of China. It would surround and protect his kingdom from invaders.


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