The Terracotta Army of Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of China, is one of the most spectacular and best-known finds in world archaeology. It was discovered by surprise in 1974 by peasants digging a well an 8,000-man garrison in battle-ready formation, spread across four pits. Here were life-size warriors made over two thousand years ago from fired clay (originally brightly painted), carrying real weapons: cavalry, archers and infantry; lowly foot soldiers and high-ranking officers; horses and war chariots. But who was this powerful Emperor of the Qin Dynasty who needed an army to guard him ...