Inventions

The Qin were masters of engineering and invention. They used iron tools to farm and built crossbows that could shoot arrows faster and farther than any weapon before. Soldiers trained to fire in teams, making their armies powerful and feared.

Qin engineers also built a massive network of canals — man-made rivers that connected lakes, farmlands, and cities. Canals were amazing for transportation because boats could carry huge loads of grain, food, and supplies much faster than carts on bumpy roads. They made travel smoother, cheaper, and safer, helping farmers sell crops and soldiers move quickly. The most famous one, the Zhengguo Canal, watered the land and made the Qin kingdom rich in food.

The emperor also built roads and canals across the land so food, goods, and messages could travel quickly — the first “highways” of China!