Shi Huangdi was the first emperor of China and ruled from 221 BCE to 210 BCE. During his reign, he was successful in uniting the warring states into one empire and greatly known for his effective projects while he ruled like the great wall of China that kept nomadic invaders out from the Northern border. However, there are many negative effects of emperor Shi Huangdi's rule that some argue that he was a very harsh and criticized ruler and responsible for the many lives lost from his legalistic punishments like being buried alive, or long sentences of work in the harsh weather on the great wall, or even death by be-heading. Even though, his punishments were very harsh and legalistic he was highly effective and good for China in many ways.