The ancient Legalists ore important in Chinese history
because they promoted a belief in the absolute power of the
ruler.
Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi was the first to create a
government according to the plan of the Legalists. After he
unified China, he divided the whole country into 42 states.
These states were controlled by officials who reported to
the emperor. There were very harsh punishments for anyone
who disobeyed the rules of the emperor including
decapitation and execution. Relatives of those who
disobeyed could also be executed.
The Qin dynasty lasted less than two decades. But this form
of government became the norm in China for more than
2,000 years.
Question 2: Using the sourcing information, is this
a primary or a secondary source?