The China History Podcast

In this final installment of the Han Dynasty overview, we look at the reign of Wang Mang during the short-lived Xin Dynasty and the Eastern (or Later) Han Dynasty that followed. The Eastern Han was a period of endless skullduggery at the imperial court where the palace eunuchs rose to power and meddled endlessly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we present the second part of the Western Han Dynasty overview where we will look at the great Han emperors Wendi, Jingdi and perhaps the greatest of them all, Han Wudi. It was a golden age in Chinese history and saw the first indirect contact between the Roman Empire in the west and Han continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode we look at only the first few decades of the Western Han Dynasty. The Western Han lasted from 202BC to 8AD. We’ll focus in on the fall of the Qin and the rise of Liu Bang who went on to found the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang would reign as Emperor Gaozu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we look at the second phase of the Zhou Dynasty. This period was known as the Eastern Zhou. The Eastern Zhou was broken down between the Spring & Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It lasted from 770 to 221BC. From this chaotic period sprang the great works that defined Chinese continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we take a 走马看花 look at the 790 year Zhou Dynasty, the longest dynasty in Chinese history. In this episode we will particularly focus on the Western Zhou Period which lasted for 275 years. Next week we will finish the Zhou Dynasty by examining the Eastern Zhou Period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time in our briefest of dynasty overviews, we examine the Shang Dynasty 1600 to 1046 BC. Chinese characters make their appearance for the first time. Artisans cast the most beautiful bronzes. Because of the discovery of archaeological evidence, many consider this China’s first real dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we commence our Chinese imperial dynasty overview by looking at the stories of Pangu, The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and the Xia Dynasty. These are all tales mostly culled from Sima Qian's "Record of the Grand Historian". These were mythical times but many of the figures discussed in today's episode reappear constantly throughout Chinese history. These founding myths of China and the Huaxia People are a good place to start. Next time we'll look at the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong billionaire tycoon who has played a great role in not only Hong Kong’s prosperity but in China’s as well. He is respected not only for his achievements in business and industry but also for his rise from humble beginnings in Chaozhou, China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kang Sheng 康生 was a sinister character from modern Chinese history who was both Chairman Mao’s close confidant and creator of China’s Secret Police. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at the Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian, the only woman from Chinese history to rule China as an emperor in her own name. Chinese names used in this episode: Wu Zetian 武则天 The only empress in China to rule in her own name Wu Zhao 武曌 Wu Zetian’s personal name Taiyuan continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, we give an overview of the First Opium War, one of the most humiliating events in Modern Chinese history. From this event that culminated in the first of many unequal treaties in 1842, China began a steady downhill slide and suffered a multitude of setbacks and insults from foreign powers eager to trade with China and build market share. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Great Leap Forward ( 大跃进) from 1958-1960 caused death and suffering to dozens of millions of people. It sounded like a workable idea but it didn’t turn out like Chairman Mao hoped. When looking back on the life of Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward is always viewed as a black mark against his legacy. I welcome you to listen to the podcast and learn all about what happens when central planning goes awry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we look at the Four Great Inventions, the 四大发明, that Lord Francis Bacon hailed as having done more than anything else to transform completely the modern world and mark it off from antiquity and the Middle Ages. The four great inventions were the compass, gunpowder, paper, and printing, each important in their own unique way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices