Bartolomeu Dias vs Qin Shi Huang

Dias commanded a Portuguese expedition that sailed around the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Storms. This proved the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were connected, opening a sea route to Asia. The cape was later renamed the Cape of Good Hope by King John II.

After rounding the Cape of Good Hope, Dias's crew forced him to turn back near the Great Fish River. He returned to Portugal in December 1488, reporting his discovery to King John II. The voyage lasted 16 months and covered over 6,000 miles.

Dias served as a captain in Pedro

Dias died when his ship sank during a storm near the Cape of Good Hope while returning from Cabral's expedition. Four ships from the fleet were lost in the same storm. Dias's body was never recovered.

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.