Leo III the Isaurian vs Qin Shi Huang

Leo III successfully defended Constantinople from a massive Arab siege by the Umayyad Caliphate. The siege lasted from 717 to 718. Leo used Greek fire and a harsh winter to defeat the Arab fleet and army, saving the Byzantine Empire from conquest and halting Arab expansion into Europe.

Leo III reorganized the Byzantine military and administrative system, strengthening the theme system. He created new themes and improved the defense of the empire. These reforms increased the empire's military effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

Leo III issued the Ecloga, a legal code that revised and simplified Roman law. The code was written in Greek and emphasized Christian principles, including greater protection for the poor and women. It influenced later Byzantine and Slavic legal systems.

Leo III issued an edict banning the veneration of icons, initiating the first period of Byzantine Iconoclasm. He ordered the destruction of religious images and persecuted iconodules. This policy caused deep religious divisions within the empire and strained relations with the Papacy.

Leo III led the Byzantine army to a decisive victory over the Umayyad Arabs at the Battle of Akroinon. The Byzantine forces destroyed the Arab army, ending the Arab threat to Anatolia for decades. This victory consolidated Byzantine control over Asia Minor.

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.