秦历史地图（前221—前202）· 疆域演变、州郡政区与古今地名
Qin Historical Atlas (221 BCE – 202 BCE) · Capital: Xianyang
秦灭六国，首次建立大一统的中央集权帝国，分天下为三十六郡（后增至四十余郡），推行书同文、车同轨、统一度量衡。蒙恬北逐匈奴收河套、筑长城与秦直道；南开灵渠平百越，置南海、桂林、象郡。前209年陈胜吴广起义，秦亡后楚汉相争。
Qin conquered the six rival states to found China’s first centralized empire, dividing the realm into 36 (later 40+) commanderies and standardizing script, coinage, weights, and axles. Meng Tian drove the Xiongnu from the Ordos Loop and linked the Great Wall and Qin Direct Road; in the south the Lingqu Canal opened Lingnan (Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang commanderies) before rebellions erupted in 209 BCE.