Qin unification is conventionally dated to 221 BCE.
Chronological context#
The Met’s account places Qin unification at the end of the competition among major Warring States. This does not make every later territorial boundary identical to the Qin realm.
A reading exercise#
Read a historical map with its date and legend. Distinguish a campaign, a political claim and effective administration rather than projecting a present-day boundary backwards.
Using the dates#
The exercise is editorial guidance for evaluating evidence. Retain the named reference and its dating convention when comparing another account; this short introduction is not an exhaustive political history.