Bayinnaung vs Qin Shi Huang

King Bayinnaung ascended the throne and began a series of military campaigns that created the largest empire in Southeast Asian history. At its peak, the Toungoo empire covered modern Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and parts of China and India.

King Bayinnaung conquered the Shan States, bringing them under Toungoo control. This expansion added significant territory and resources to the Burmese empire.

King Bayinnaung's forces captured the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya after a long siege. He installed a vassal king and made Siam a tributary state of the Toungoo empire.

King Bayinnaung implemented administrative reforms to govern his vast empire, including the appointment of governors and the standardization of laws and taxes. These reforms helped maintain control over conquered territories.

King Bayinnaung conquered the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang (modern Laos), bringing it under Toungoo control. This further expanded the Burmese empire to its greatest territorial extent.

Qin Shi Huang commissioned a vast mausoleum complex near Xi'an, guarded by thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots. The project employed hundreds of thousands of workers and reflected his obsession with immortality and imperial power.

From 230 to 221 BCE, Ying Zheng led the Qin state in a series of campaigns that conquered the Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi states. This unified China under a single ruler for the first time, ending the Warring States period.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the standardization of Chinese script, currency, and weights and measures across the unified empire. This facilitated administration, trade, and cultural integration, laying a foundation for future dynasties.

After conquering the last independent state, Ying Zheng declared himself Shi Huangdi (First Emperor), founding the Qin Dynasty. He adopted a new title to signify his supreme authority and initiated centralized imperial rule.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the connection and extension of existing northern fortifications to create a unified defensive wall against nomadic Xiongnu raids. This project involved massive conscripted labor and became the precursor to the later Great Wall.

On the advice of Li Si, Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of historical records and philosophical texts not aligned with Legalist doctrine. He also had 460 Confucian scholars buried alive to suppress dissent and consolidate ideological control.