Examining terracotta warriors of China’s first long-lasting empire

Terracotta warriors

Join us Oct. 5 for a free lecture titled "Terracotta Warriors after the First Emperor: Re-evaluating the Qin Legacy in the Han."

The First Emperor’s (r. 221–210 B.C.E.) terracotta army has captured the world’s attention since its first discovery in the 1970s. The thousands of marionette-like figures standing in formation testify to an administration that had achieved unprecedented military power. The First Emperor’s famous assemblage, however, was not the last terracotta army to be commissioned; he inspired a long line of clay armies in the Western Han dynasty (202 B.C.E.–9 C.E.).

This presentation will examine these new army figurines and their relationship to the Qin precedent, reflecting on their unique style and considering what the armies reveal about warfare and politics in China’s first long-lasting empire. This lecture is part of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) lecture series.

Thursday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Hale Science, room 270