* Founded the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE, uniting all of China under one rule
* Implemented a number of reforms, including a centralized government, standardized currency, and a unified writing system
* Built the Great Wall of China
2. Han Wudi (141–87 BCE)
* Expanded the Han dynasty into Central Asia, creating a vast empire
* Developed the Silk Road, a major trade route between China and the West
* Instituted a number of reforms, including the promotion of Confucianism and the expansion of the civil service examination system
3. Sui Wendi (541–604 CE)
* Reunited China after the fall of the Han dynasty
* Built the Grand Canal, a major transportation artery that connected the north and south of China
* Implemented a number of reforms, including the establishment of a merit-based civil service system