Page 24 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

Life in
Little remains of the magnificent palaces of China’s first ever capital city. But hidden in the ground, an
army made of terracotta and a unique, pyramid- shaped tomb reveal a glimpse into life in
ancient China more than 2,000 years ago.
8 OOO
15O
13O
Population of Xi'an today:
In NuMbers
Area of tomb:
Number of figures in the terracotta army:
Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi lived in a huge, luxurious palace. Wealthy noble families lived in beautiful houses and palaces too, although many of them had been forced to move to Xianyang by the emperor to fill his new city, whether they wanted to or not.
Rich citizens were the only people allowed to wear silk – even silk-sellers weren’t allowed to wear it. Men and women of all classes wore their hair long, pinned or tied up, because they believed hair came from their ancestors, and to cut it would be disrespectful.
Population of Xianyang in 212 BCE:
6OO
OOO
Less wealthy people might have been warriors in the imperial army, merchants, or some of the many officials
who kept the empire running smoothly, but most people worked as poor farmers, silk harvesters, or were set to work
building roads, canals or the first Great Wall of China.