Monday, December 19, 2011

Shi Huangdi: Insane Monster or Progressive Visionary?

In ancient China, the land was ruled by dynasties. One of those dynasties, the third one overall, was called the Qin dynasty. The Qin dynasty was established by Shi Huangdi, who united China and became the first emperor of China. Shi Huangdi is perhaps the most well-known ancient Chinese emperor. Why is he so well-known? Well, that is for us to decide. Some people call Shi Huangdi a insane monster who used fear and brutality to rule his people. Others, call him a progressive visionary who established key features to China that continue to shape China today. Today, we are going to look at both sides of the arguement and decide for ourselves whether we think Shi Huangdi is a hero or a villian.
Shi Huangid: Insane Monster or Progressive Visionary?

Task: Use the link above to help you decide what you think about Shi Huangdi. The link will provide you both sides of the arguement, and its up to you to decide what is more important. In your comment, I want you to state in ALL CAPS your decision. "Hero" or "Villain" Then, explain your position in 3-4 sentences. Do NOT just say "I think he is a villian cause he did bad stuff." Give me specifics. Think about your response and give me a good, well thought out answer.

In-Class Blogging.

105 comments:

3Dylan B said...

VILLAN: I think he is a villan because he went against reading,and went against confucianism.

3BraidenP said...

VILLIAN, because he would bury the people that spoke against him alive or make them work on the great wall of China

3seths said...

BAD DUDE
he would have people buried alive for just saying no there not going to do that or what ever so i think hes a VILLIAN

3 Jacob J said...

I think he was a bad dude.

3sarahg said...

GOOD. beacause he united China. his dynasty invented the compass.

3 Valoree said...

VILLAIN because if you did something wrong you would have to ethier work on the great wall or you would be sent to death alive.

3TessaJ said...

VILLAIN because he would bury people and I dont think thats right.

3kainep said...

VILLIAN because he burried people alive if the talked out of the qin dynasty he also made nabors spy on each other

3 Lacey E said...

HERO: Because he built many canals and ditches for farming and irrigation. Saved thousands from dying of starvation.

3marshalle said...

VILLAIN, becuase he always would bury people alive

3 Jacob J said...

I think He was A BAD DUDE. he was bad because the bad things were like killing people. the good was that he just helped build things. killing people is worst.

3CadeT said...

VILLEN killed alot of people and was crazy and made up a spy ssystem.

3paigem said...

HERO beuase he unites china making it much stronger to outside forces. he also built many bridgs

3HannahH said...

Villain- I beilive he was a bad dude because he had way too hard punishments. He was a very good empire also because he pretty much made china better. But the bad things he did was a crime in this day. If he would have not have been that strict he would have been a much better empirer.

3BryceA said...

HERO Because e made China stronger. He made the compass in his dynasty. The Great Wall of China was improved to defend against northern enemys.

3 Hailey S said...

VILLAIN because he brought alot of crule punishments to things that are not that big. I also think he is cruel because just if you defended Confucianism you were eather buried alive or sent to work on the great wall of china. Plus he didnt alow reading because he said that if you read you took away time from working in the fields.

3FelicityK said...

VILLAIN because he totally disrespected Confucianism. He forced neighboors to spy on each other or they would be excuted. He disrespeced reading because he thought it was a wast of time. So what i am saying is thatnif you did something wrong you would either be buried alive, excuted, or be sent to work on the Breat Wall of China.

3alyssaF said...

VILLAIN because he controled people and would bury them alive.HE would have people spy on you and your family.He was a harsh ruler and you had to obeye him.He was NOT fair at all.

3 gracie l said...

VILLIAN: i think shi huang di is a villian because he controlled what people talked about and if they wouldint obey him they would get burried alive and they shouldint get that bad of a punishment. he might of done all of those good things, but another dynasy could of invented the compass. he wanted to live forever so he also went crazy.

3MasonV said...

Task #1

I think he is a "VILLAIN" because he was a harsh ruler and never listened to what the people. Which I think that is very important for a ruler.

3rebecca s said...

HERO he is a hero because he set up a system of standardization that all weigts,measurements,money,and writing was the same avross the entir empire. He improved the great wall of china,making it a lot more effective defending the nothern enemies. He built many canals and ditches for farming and irrigation.

eddie3 said...

Villan because he separated family if one did not listen to him . he was also a villan because he made it a law if any taught or beilived in confication would be exuxed or sent to go work on the great wall.he was a good guy because he was also a good guy beacause he invented yhe compass.

3rashay a said...

VILLAIN
Because China could be even better if he had not burn books so people could not learn. Also he had people invaid other peoples space.

4georgek said...

I think Shi Huangdi is a VILLAIN because he didn't allow people to have freedom. He always had people spying on people to make sure they don't do anything bad. you wouldn't be able to do anything you would want to do in private

4courtneyk said...

Task 1: i I think he was a bad dude because what kind of man or emperor would burry people alive. He also madde people spy on each other. Would you like to have some one always know what you are doing? I didnt think so.

4mitchellG said...

HERO

I think he is a hero bacause he did many good things like invent a system of money. Even tho he did have harsh punishments but that did help him have a better controle on his empire.

4davis kj said...

VILLAN

I think that Shi Huangdi was a villan because he made people obey him. If someone said something bad about him, they would be executed immedeitly. He also burned a whole ton of books, which is NOT COOL! He would bury people alive! Sure, building a huge wall to help protect China was great but, He killed way too many people doing it.

4elizabethd said...

I think Shi Huangdi was a VILLAIN.
I think the villain sidde out rules the hero side because he made people spy on each other and made the decision on what career they took. He took books and burned them and he preached about confucionism. He took 400 scholars/ authors who refused to stop writing and teaching.

Maddi Stamp said...

VILLIAN!!!
I think he is a villian because he made nieghbors spy on themor they were to be executed.

4tiad said...

I think he is a bad person cause he would burry people alive or make them work on the great wall I do not care if gave away all if his money cause that is just crule and he would burn books and if anybody did they would have to be bured alive or sent to work onn the great wall and to spy on other people and get in other peoples busness is just down riht rude so I think he is a bad person

weston s said...

i think he is a hero because he built bridges his dynasty invented a compass but he controlled what people studyed about.those who spoke out agaisnt the qin dynasty were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall.

4ColeJensen said...

GOOD FELLA because he built many bridges. He also he united China making it much stronger to outside forces. And last off he ordered the constructuon of over 4000 miles of road improving transportation throughout the empire.

4SydneyN said...

VILLAIN. I think he was a villain because he hated Confucianism, which taught fairness and respect. Shi Huangdi also discouraged reading because it "wasted" time. People were buried alive as a punishment!!(That is NOT very nice.)

4Moeller N said...

I think he was a villain, because if anyone made the slightest criticism they would be executed immediately.

4bradyd said...

HERO

I think he is a good guy because he made China stronger and gave China its standards, and those cruel things he did? Those are his rules and people didnt follow them. The critcism thing. That means he was aganist it. Also, people gotta work dont they? So its not cruel that he sent so many people to work.

4katelynnm said...

I think Emperor Shi Huangdi is a good guy, because he united China making much stronger forces and there can be an explanmation why he would punish everybody such as: He set up a spy system that forced nieghbors to spy on each other. He probly did that so if someone killed another person then they know who killed him.

4mackenzieh said...

VILLIAN. Eventhough he did good stuff he still did bad things. Also I think he is a bad dude is beause eventhough you do bad things, the good things don't always make up for that. If you do something bad you still made damage, so it takes a lot more good things to lear it up. That is my desission if he is a VILLIAN or a hero.

4 Courtney M said...

VILLAN. I think he is a villan because his main punishment was death even for stupid things or working on the great wall wich wasnt as bad. Also because he made people spy on each other wich is a great invasion of privacy. Last but not least he burned books because he thoght it wasted time and took time away form time in the feild.

4 Natalie W said...

Villian, because he controlled the people and what they studied and i dont think a hero would do that. Also 400 authors who refused to stop writing and teaching were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall. If someone refused to stop writing that is there choice not his.

4kylen said...

VILLIAN: He controlled what people studied and talked about. He also made people spy on someone else to always know what they are doing

4Kane T said...

i think he was bad true he had many acomplishments but he was a very greedy person because he wanted people to hav the same opinons and qualitys as him he alwees wanted more for himself

jerrodw4 said...

VILLAIN


I think he is a villain
because he made very stricted
rules like,he controlled what
people studied and talked
about.And if you got caught
talking against the Qin Dynasty
you were ether buried alive or
sent to work at the Great
Wall.

4chris j said...

hero because the bad stufe tose are rolse, and people did not lison.

4ElizabethB said...

I think he is a bad dude because he did some good things like saving people from starvtion, but he didd kill many more in oter ways like buriing them alive or sending them to work on the great wall.I think that is very bad, no one should be killed because they refused to write.

4AmandaR said...

VILLAIN

I think Shi Huangdi was a villain because he set up a system where if you didn't spy on your neighbors you would be executed.
I also think he was a villain because he controled what people said or did. He also made all the punishments to be execution, working on the Great Wall of China,or being buried alive. The last reason I think he is a villain because he discouraged reading because it took time away from farming.

4Freyag said...

VILLAIN-I think that shi huangid is a bad dude. I know that he "made" the great wall better but he didnt make it better the slaves did the 400schoars did, even perfectly inocent people did. they made the great wall better and they built the bridges they did all the buildinfg all he did was give orders.thats why I think he is a bad dude.

6rylie n said...

HERO~ because he built many bridges

6charliew said...

EVIL- in the good section of shi huangdi it sais that he biult bridges and added on to the great wall... but the people who were building them were people that were innocent but enslaved by him.

6Tessa V said...

HERO: because he built cananls and ditches for farming and irrigation. saved thousands from dying of starvati0on.

18shanleyz said...

HERO
I think he is good beause he helped buildthe Great Wall Of China an built many bridges for people.

6reesv said...

HERO-bacause he alot of canals and ditches for farming and irregation, which saved thousands from starvation.

6Kinzer L said...

I think Shi Huangdi is a VILLIAN. Even though he did many good things he was very unfair towards people. And he seemed crazy. Also he made neighboors spy on eachother, and i know i wouldnt like being spied on. Or being burned alive.

6Trevor D said...

VILLIAN- I think he burned books and people who tried to stop him from burning them would be burned alive. Also he was completly against fairness and RESPECT. Therfore I think he was a VILLIAN.

6MaggieL said...

HERO: He saved a lot of lives when he built the canals and ditches to irrigate the land. He built briges.

6colee said...

I think he,s eivl becuse he maid people spy on each other.

6lambedev000 said...

VILLAIN- He developed a spy system that made you spy on you neighbors or be executed. he burned all the books from confuciasm. therefore i think shi huang de was a terrible villian.

6jordana said...

I think he is good because he helped build the greatwall of china its his fault he does not like reading

6lucass said...

HERO-he built many canals and ditches for farmig and irrigation saced thousands from dying of starvation. he built many bridges his dynasty invented the compass
shi haundi established the frame work of the country that still exists today

6masonr said...

VILLAIN
who ever spoke out he burried people alive of put them to work on the great wall

6taylor r said...

I think Shi Huangdi is a VILLIAN. He did many good things but was sometimes cruel against people. He wanted to live forever and that may be why he was crazy. If someone refused to do something he insists they were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall. I wouldnt want to be spied on either.

kevin6 g said...

HERO


i THINK HE IS A Hero because he united making it mutchstronger to the outside forses

6tyb said...

i think he is bad well he bared some one alive a good fella whould not do that and he set up a spy sistem and then he whoud kill them so i think he is a vellen

6Jalend said...

VILLAIN

Why is he a villian is because burned all the books on confucianism.Also he said stop to all of the 400 scholers and authers to stop teaching and writing if the did't they were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall.Finally he wanted to live forever and thats probly why he was crazy.

6FAITHB said...

VILLIAN
I think that he was a viilian because all the bad things he did probably killed more people than when he did good things to save them. All of the good things he did were nice, but the bad things were extremely harsh. If I had been living while he was ruling, I probably would have thought that he was a horrible man, that he didn't care about his people, only about himself. It would be easy to look past all the good stuff he did and just complain about him, which wouldn't be fair, considering he had done some good stuff. But overall, the bad stuff out rules the good stuff in my mind.

8AustinE said...

HERO

I think that he is a nice man because eventhough he mass murdered a thousand people he also saved thuosands and thousand of people by inventing new ways of irrigation.

8kiekuhne said...

I THINK HE IS A BAD GUY....VILLIAN......
SO WHAT IF HE BUILT A BRIDGE THAT DOESNT MEAN NOTHING! KILLING PEOPLE BUILDING A BRIDGE KILLING PEOPLE BULIDING A BRIDGE...HE KILLED PEOPLE HE IS SUCH A VILLIAN!!!!!!!!

8McClaneA said...

VILLAIN because he destroyed goood tesaching. He also buried people alive, alot. All the good stuff he did could have been done by others, so it`s not like it makes him special.To me he sounds crazy,mean, and the picture makes him look weird.

8ZenF said...

think he is a villain because when ever some one would talk agenst him he would burn them alive of made them work on the great wall.

8max w said...

VILLAIN: I think he is a villain because if someone disobeyed him or didnt spy on neighbor they would be executed right away. Even though he saved lives and invented things i still think he is a villain bacause you should never order someone to do something, and if they dont they will be executed.

8jacobm said...

i think hes a good fella because he upgraded the chinas wall defence to save all of thier people and so the enamy will never get threw it

8Dawson S said...

VILLAIN Becauce he had crool punishments for things thet are miner.

8IntisarK said...

VILLAIN.

That's what I think of him. I don't really care if he built the wall to protect China or unite it. All he ever seemed to care about is having power over anything in the world, and even if he did make irrigation to make food thet kept hundreds from starving it was porbably because he needed people to rule and work for him. The thing that makes him evil in my opinion is all the killing he did. Murdering is just not the way to deal with someone who simply disagrees with you, and being buried or burned alive is just down right horrible. The thing I really hate is the fact that he hated reading and writing. I love to do both, and I think everyone should learn how to. I also dislike the fact that he hated Confucianism so much. I think people should have a choice to what religon they want to fallow and not be punished for believing in something an insane ruler does. The spy thing also gets to me. Why would you want to turn neigbors on each other?

8ChristianM said...

VILLAIN! He tried to controll wat people did. Those who spoke against wer either buried alive or sent to work at the great wall. Who would want that.

8 Ethan Leesch said...

VILLAIN for the slighest critcism you were exucuded he did good stuff to but leaders are suppose to do good stuff and discureged reading wich would later on hurt the poeple when there adults or teens so there would be not as much inventers and other people like that.

8KeananB said...

VILLAIN: I think he is a villain because he controlled peoples actions and what they talked about. He also killed people by makeing them work to hard on the great wall.

8carter H said...

VILLAIN
I think SHI Huangdi is a villan cause there were 400 solars and teachers that if they refuse to do there work they were killed or put to work on the great wall.

austinskow9 said...

I think Shi Huangdi was a hero because with him China had stronger forces and that resualted in China not living in poverty and you were able to live in China.

9KelsyS. said...

My opionion is i think he is a hero because he saved many people from starvation and he built many bridges to let people cross rivers and so on.

9 Sydnee P said...

VILLIAN
I think Shi Huangdi was a horrible because he controlled everything. He gave nobody a chance to express themselves or using their imagination without being executed. He didn't trust people apparently, or else he wouldn't have forced them to spy on each other. I think his rules were almost as bad as Hammurabi's code. People couldn't do anything without the threat of death hanging over their head.

9reedv said...

i think he was a villain because if people did some thing wrong he would either barry them alive or make them work on the great wall of china

9 Christine C said...

My opinion is I think he is a Hero because he has done alot of good things like he has built many canals and ditches for farming and irrigation. Saved thousands from dying of starvation.

9maxh said...

I think Shi Hugandi was a villian. I think he was a villian because if you kill all the people working on the structure then nobody will use it because all of them died. Anothe rreason that he was bad is that he only took certain people to work on the wall so that doesnt really prove to me that he made people equal.

9ariannas said...

I think he is a HERO because some of the stuff is still standing and they are very important in this year 2011-2012. also because we still use these thing alot times still in out year. liek money we use that aloy still sasme with writing. so thats why i think he is a good fella.

9Kaitlin s said...

VILLAIN

I think he was a villain because he killed people for dis-obeying.
I also think he's a villain because he didnt allow people to read which if I was the ruler I'd encourage them to read. He either made people work on the Great Wall of China or he killed them for punishment. I also think he is a villain because he did'nt really care much about rules and all he probaly really wanted was people to work for him and just obey him and listen and if the did'nt he would either kill them or make them work on the Great Wall of China.

9lindseys said...

I think hes a HERO because he united china making it much stronger to outside forces. He also set up a system of stanarization. He added to and inproved the great wall of China. He also built many bridges.

9abigails said...

Villin because he did good thing but not for people.

9derekg said...

I think he was a villan because, he had really harsh punishments for different things and only a few of the good things I thought were very important.

9loreta h said...

VILLAIN
because he would have spys systen that forced neighbors to spy on each or they would have to exeuted i mean thats not really nice. He would make people do what they dident want to do such as he rejected confuciasm and they would be buried alive or sent to work on the grate wall. He all so controlled what people talked about and studied i think people should chosse waht they want to.

9KaitlynG said...

VILLAIN. i think he is a villain because when it says trying to live forever may point him crazy,if he is crazy that may cause him to do crazy things. Burrying people alive is very villianish. Stopping people who teached was very bad.

9Thuha H said...

Shi Huangdi is a bad guy or villain because he can't just buried someone alive because he hate them or sent them to work on the great wall. Good people don't stop writing and teaching even though it is important. Another thing is people should read because it edicade them he just can't discouraged them not to read book.

9Noah H said...

I think he was a VILLAIN.
1. Because he set up a spy system so that would be gross and mean.
2. He controled what people talked about and if they spoke out agest him they would be killed.
3. He set up legalism and it was a "do as your told or be killed".

9AmandaO siad... said...

I think he was a villian. First off I understand he did some very good things,but burning books,excuting people for teaching, and forceing people to work on the great wall for speaking thier mind.

9nick l said...

I think he is a villan because:
he sent spys to spy on there neighbors. He forced writters to stop writing or they were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall.

9louisk said...

A villian because whoever spoke out against Shi Huangdi would be forced to work on the great wall of china, or be buried alive. and he totally rejected confucianism,wich tought fairness and respect. Also he wanted to figure out how to live forever this makes him look as if he was crazzzyy!!! Finally if 400 scholars/authors who refused to stop writing and teaching were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall.

9 Lincy R said...

I think Shi Huangdi is a villain because, why can't you study and talk about whatever you what. Also, because why would he set up a spy system where neighbors were forced to spy on you. I think you should have your own privacy.

8grace b said...

Bad dude: he is too strict! I like to have a little fun once and awhile so i would TOTALLY not be cool with his rules. Death really?! And to be against some thing that teaches fairness and respect!! wow.....

6MakailaW said...

I think Shi Huangdi is a VILLIAN. He did many good things but was sometimes cruel against people. He wanted to live forever and that may be why he was crazy. If someone refused to do something he insists they were buried alive or sent to work on the great wall. I wouldnt want to be spied on either

4Rachael c said...

VILLAIN:Cause he did not help. He only took he would not let people have there own belief system and buried people in the ground alive. And did not thought of people privesis.

6 Alexm said...

BAd Dude because he want to live forever so he did not care about people and he was crazy

6Emily R said...

Villain: because he treats people unfairly, and he judges people over Confucianism.

6Emily R said...

Villain: because he treats people unfairly, and he judges people over Confucianism.

6brooke t said...

Villan because he did things to make people hurt other people! ao he is a bad dude!

8GrantE said...

HERO: he United China

9marya said...

HERO because he built ditches for farming and irrigation so people wouldnt starve and also invented the compass.

6hannahb said...

VILLAN because he buried people alive and he wouldn't let people have their on belief system