This essay will focus on the economic aspects of the Qin dynasty which made them superior to other states and allowed them to conquer and unify China. The Qin state focused heavily on their agriculture, military and bureaucracy, as well as trade and commerce leaving behind a remarkable future of a standardised economy for the following states after them. The Warring States period was a time of uncertainty and political instability. The ruler Duke Xiao appointed Lord Yang who was a follower of Legalism, a philosophy nurturing absolute power, as the Chief Minister to bring change in the Qin State. Legalism was important as it reassured power into the ruler’s hands, forcing people to follow strict legal codes making them obedient to the ruler. This led Lord Yang to abolish the previous landowning mechanism of aristocracy and replaced it with centralised bureaucracy, whereby members were appointed and dismissed on military merit. The Qin developed a bureaucratic office and rank whereby they could control each and every aspect of people’s lives. The Qin Empire under these reforms was divided into 36 provinces with 2 government officials in charge of each province. Each province was further divided into district with their own 2 officials to maintain checks and balances within the bureaucracy. These policies had devastating impacts on the general public who were mostly peasants. A household registration system was developed by Lord Shang. This was the central database for the