Final answer:
There were seven states at war during the Warring States period before Qin Shi Huang unified China: Qin, Qi, Chu, Han, Wei, Zhao, and Yan.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Qin Shi Huang period, specifically known as the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), there were initially seven states that were at war with each other.
This tumultuous era was characterized by the fierce competition and conflict among these states, which included Qin, Qi, Chu, Han, Wei, Zhao, and Yan.
These large states had massive armies, and battles would often result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Eventually, the Qin state conquered all others, leading to the unification of China under Qin Shi Huang, who became the first emperor of a centralized Chinese empire, marking a significant shift in Chinese history.