The Qing Empire did not collapse because it stopped working. It collapsed because it kept working — just barely — under pressures that compounded faster than reform could relieve them...
Time Period Covered:
~1790s-1840s CE
Major Works Cited:
Jones, Susan Mann and Philip A. Kuhn. “Dynastic Decline and the Roots of Rebellion.” The Cambridge History of ... Show More
Dec 29
#315 - Qing 46: Tripping Toward Taiping - Tribes, Triads, & Theology
Great Qing begins to buckle under early 19th c. internal pressures. Unrest first erupts not at the imperial core but along its social and geographic margins. This time, we look at three of the early warning shocks: the Miao frontier rebellions, the rise of Triad networks across t ... Show More
40m 47s
Jan 10
#316 - Opium War 1: Chasing the Dragon
In this empire business, you gotta make the opium first. Then when you get the opium, you get the silver. Then when you get the silver, then you get the tea.Time Period Covered:ca. 1760-1839 CEMajor Historical Figures:Qing Empire:The Daoguang Emperor (Minning) [r. 1820–1850]Gover ... Show More
44m 14s
Jan 18
#317 - Opium War 2: Laboriously Vile Barbarian Eye
In 1834, Britain sent a man to China almost perfectly unsuited to the job... only to forbid him from actually doing it. William John Napier, naval officer, socialite, & dilettante with no experience in diplomacy, trade, or China, arrived at Canton convinced he was destined to bre ... Show More
42m 19s
Oct 2024
Introducing: Warfronts by Simon Whistler
Warfronts takes a deep dive into the world’s most significant conflicts, past and present. Now available as a podcast, we explore modern wars, the politics behind them, and how they shape the world today. Whether it’s a forgotten battle or the ongoing struggles in global hotspots ... Show More
1m 47s
May 2023
The Art of War by Sun Tzu ~ Full Audiobook [history]
The Art of War by Sun Tzu audiobook. Genre: history Composed as a compact manual of strategy and leadership, The Art of War presents Sun Tzu's principles for prevailing in conflict through preparation, intelligence, and disciplined execution. Rather than celebrating brute force, ... Show More
1h 11m