This historical drama tells the story of Qin Shihuang, who unified China’s vast territory and declared himself emperor in 221 B.C. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace, to fierce battles with feudal kings, this film re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty, including footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed 2,200 years ago for his tomb. The First Emperor of China was shot entirely in IMAX.
This historical drama tells the story of Qin Shihuang, who unified China’s vast territory and declared himself emperor in 221 B.C. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace, to fierce battles with feudal kings, this film re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty, including footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed 2,200 years ago for his tomb.
The First Emperor of China was shot entirely in IMAX.
Warning (if any): Violence
Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context:
Dramatization of the rule of the first emperor of China, Emperor Qin, narrated by Christopher Plummer.
In the film they mention that many men join the army for glory. Do you think men and women today join the army for similar reasons? Why or why not?
There was a steep human cost for Qin’s empire. Do governments continue to sacrifice citizens for power or glory? How so?
During Qin’s rule, he took to burning books to control public thought; when else in history has this happened? This escalated to killing dissidents or those who criticize policy. How are the policies related?
When did freedom of speech become more acknowledged as universal?
Why did Qin’s legacy not continue past 36 months after his death? Why do many dictatorships not succeed? What predicts the longevity of a leader and their policies?