The dukes and kings of Qin (their homelands are signified by the green lined pattern) were among the first rulers to establish commanderies (jun 郡) in their territory as administratorial unit, instead of enfeoffing marquis and barons. When King Ying Zheng unified China, he dissolved the old feudal kingdoms and established commanderies (names in black) in the whole territory of China. Some of them, especially the lands in the south with the Yue inhabitants (Nanyue 南越, Dongyue 東越, and Minyue 閩越), were incorporated for the first time into the realm of China. The capital was Xianyang 咸陽 in modern Shaanxi. The territory near the capital (neishi 內史) was directly administered, a measure still in practice during the following dynasties. The Qin commanderies are: Center, W and S: Neishi 內史 Longxi 隴西郡 Shang 上郡 Jiuyuan 九原郡 Yunzhong 雲中郡 Beidi 北地郡 Ba 巴郡 Shu 蜀郡 Qianzhong 黔中郡 Nan 南郡 Hengshan (1) 衡山郡 Changsha 長沙郡 Jiujiang 九江郡 Huiji 會稽郡 Minzhong 閩中郡 Nanhai 南海郡 Guilin 桂林郡 Xiang 象郡 E: Sanchuan 三川郡 Nanyang 南陽郡 Yingchuan 潁川郡 Chen 陳郡 Dong 東郡 Dang 碭郡 Sishui 泗水郡 Jibei 濟北郡 Xue 薛郡 Linzi 臨淄郡 Jiaodong 膠東郡 Langya 琅邪郡 Donghai 東海郡 NE: Hedong 河東郡 Henei 河內郡 Shangdang 上黨郡 Handan 邯鄲郡 Julu 巨鹿郡 Taiyuan 太原郡 Hengshan (2) 恆山郡 Yanmen 雁門郡 Dai 代郡 Shanggu 上谷郡 Guangyang 廣陽郡 (modern Beijing) Yuyang 漁陽郡 Youbeiping 右北平郡 Liaoxi 遼西郡 Liaodong 遼東郡 To defend his empire against the intruding northern nomad tribes like the Xiongnu 匈奴 and Hu 胡 (rather a general term for "barbarians"), a long fortification wall (the Great Wall; Changcheng 長城) was built along the northern frontier, in the map shown as a black line. A very important instrument to control the local governors were the inspection tours of the First Emperor, in the map shown with red lines. In 210, the Emperor died during an inspection tour (big dot). After the death of the First Emperor, local leaders rose against the Qin Dynasty, defeated the Qin armies and sacked the capital.

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