-
Random Facts
- Is the Mongoose a Goose?
- How Do Crickets Chirp?
- Was Uncle Sam a Real Person?
- Who was Brendan the Navigator?
- What part of the body has the thickest skin?
- How were Antibiotics Invented and When?
- Why Is Brown Sugar Brown?
- How was the Tattoo Invented and When?
- How Did the Zipper Get Its Name?
- How were CDs and DVDs Invented and When?
-
Recent Comments
- Bryan L. Allen on When was the first human-powered airplane flight?
- Harvey on How Did Eggs and Rabbits Become Associated with the Celebration of Easter?
- Tim tool man on Where is the Hottest Place on Earth?
- Bob Cahill on Are areas near the equator always warm even at higher elevations?
- chris on Who Invented Chewing Gum?
- mary on History of Umbrellas
- Abel Robinault on How Does a Clam Eat?
- chakaloso on How Does a Radio Work?
- natalie amaya on History of Shoes
- genessia on Who Invented the First Computer?
-
Tags
-
-
Pages
More Facts
-
Which Chinese Emperor Burned All the Books in China?
Chin Shih Huang-ti was one of the most important rulers in the history of China.
He did much to unify that nation, and he ordered the construction of the Great Wall. But Chin is as much remembered for what he destroyed as for what he built.
Many Chinese scholars opposed Chin, so the emperor ordered the destruction of the scholars’ greatest treasures, their books. On Chin’s order, every book in China was burned, with the exception of copies kept by Chin himself in the Imperial library.
He also spared books on medicine, agriculture, and fortune-telling. When the scholars protested, Chin had 500 of them killed. Then he issued an order that forbade anyone in China to talk about the past!
When Chin died in 210 B.C., his son Erh Shih Huang-ti became emperor. One of his first acts was to order the execution of 12 brothers and 10 sisters! Erh Shih was killed after only three years as ruler of China.