Ching Shih

Grace Hopper started out as a curious kid who took apart every clock in the house just to see how they worked - and then carried that same energy into adulthood, where she became the woman who helped invent modern programming languages, making it possible for computers to be used ... Show More

This week's episode will be ready for your ears in a couple of days, but this is a quick note to let you know that the History Chicks Field Trip to Japan, October 1-10, 2027 is now open for registration! Join us as we start in Tokyo, then take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Along the w ... Show More

We just got back from a brand new field trip that we have nicknamed “Helleaux Chateaux!” Along with dozens of friends, we went on an excursion across the Loire Valley where we visited castle after castle… and met many women that we have talked about on the show: Eleanor of Aquita ... Show More

The most successful pirate in history is one few have heard of: Ching Shih, the pirate queen of the South China Sea. At her height in the early 1800s, Shih commanded nearly 80,000 pirates. She took on entire nations… and won. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices ... Show More

Many pirates viewed women aboard ships as bad luck. One woman proved they were only bad luck for the ships they targeted. Meet Ching Shih, who went from flower boat girl to the leader of the Red Fleet, one of the largest and most powerful pirate fleets in history. See omnystudio. ... Show More

Greg Jenner, comedian Ria Lina and Prof Ronald C Po investigate one of the most successful pirates to have ever lived, Zheng Yi Sao. During the 18th century Qing dynasty, she led the most feared army of pirates the world had ever seen - all without a parrot on her shoulder.Resear ... Show More

At its height, the Red Flag Confederation taxed, policed, and protected the coast of Guangdong rather better than the Qing Empire managed to – 20,000 men , 1,800 hulls, and a woman from a Canton floating brothel who ran the whole enterprise on paperwork. Then Canton went looking ... Show More

<p>When people think of pirates, they usually picture male, western scoundrels flouting the law throughout the Caribbean. However, piracy is not a solely western pursuit. Listen in as Deblina and Sarah recount the exploits of pirates in the South China Sea.</p><p> </p> Learn more ... Show More

Xi Jinping is the most powerful person in the world. But the real story of China’s leader remains a mystery. The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong finds out how he rose to the top in a new podcast series launching on September 28th. For more China coverage, subscribe to The Economist and ... Show More

Yo-ho, a pirate’s life for she! Legends of Blackbeard and movie buccaneers like Captain Jack Sparrow give us the impression that piracy was a man’s world. But historians and the Nat Geo book Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas are righting the ship. Joi ... Show More

It’s November 28th, 1809. The Imperial fleet in Tung Chung Bay is aflame. But the crew of Zheng I Sao’s ship watch on and cheer. This is the greatest victory of the Pirate Queen, scourge of the South China Sea. At its peak, her fleet was more than twice the size of the Spanish Ar ... Show More

<p>In 7th-century China, Wu Zetian went from low-tiered concubine to Empress and then, finally, to Emperor in her own right. Her legacy is murky and strange, and her rise to power is trickled with blood. </p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheart ... Show More