Final answer:
The Qin Dynasty was relatively short, lasting only 15 years from 221 BCE to 206 BCE. Its centralized system and legal reforms had a lasting impact despite its brief duration.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that compared to other dynasties of Ancient China, the Qin Dynasty was relatively short. The Qin Dynasty, which was China's first imperial dynasty, lasted from 221 BCE to 206 BCE, totaling just 15 years. Its brief existence was due in part to the harsh Legalist policies and the centralized system it created which, while revolutionary, also led to its downfall after the death of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. His death was followed by a series of wars that eventually led to the establishment of the Han Dynasty. The Qin Dynasty's contributions, however, such as creating a uniform legal system, standardizing weights, measures, and currency, and constructing grand projects like the Terracotta Army, laid the foundations for future dynasties and had a lasting impact on China's imperial structure up to 1912 CE.