Ep. 92 | Zheng He (Part 1)
Zheng He’s seven voyages to India, Persia, and the east coast of Africa created a big sensation in the early 15th century. Zheng He’s sponsor, the emperor Yong Le, was determined, through these voyages, to let the world see for itself all the splendor and richness of China.
Ep. 91 | Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu has gone down in the annals of Chinese history as one of the most ferocious and greatest of generals and strategists.
Ep. 90 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 8)
In this final episode of the Cultural Revolution overview we look at the events that went down in 1976 as well as the massive mopping-up operation that took place after the fall of the Gang of Four.
Ep. 89 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 7)
In Part 7 of our Cultural Revolution overview, we get all the way up to the end of 1975. With Zhou Enlai ailing and Mao Zedong also not long for the world, there is a sudden urgency to find a successor to the chairman.
Ep. 88 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 6)
In Part 6 of our Cultural Revolution overview, we finish off 1969, a year that not only saw internal revolt and anarchy but also saw armed border confrontation with the Soviet Union in the freezing northeast.
Ep. 87 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 5)
In the fifth installment of our China History Podcast overview of the Cultural Revolution we look at the milestone events of 1967: The February Countercurrent, 8 Point Program, 10 Point Program, and the Wuhan Incident.
Ep. 86 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 4)
In this episode, the violence spreads throughout China and anyone with something to hide about their class background is tracked down and forced to endure the most horrible of fates.
Ep. 84 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 2)
After a nine-month hiatus down in Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Wuhan, Mao is now back in Beijing and ready to mount his attack on the party leadership and unleash the Cultural Revolution on the entire country.
Ep. 83 | The Cultural Revolution (Part 1)
By popular demand, Laszlo begins to trace the history of the Cultural Revolution.
This week’s episode looks at the events leading up to the moment in 1966 when Mao called for the people to Bombard the Headquarters and to tear down the government.
Ep. 82 | The History of China-India Relations
The long history of Chinese-Indian Relations is overwhelmingly one of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and benefit.
Only in the past century have challenges presented themselves that occasionally brought the two great civilizations into conflict.
Ep. 81 | Guan Yu
Known by many names, Guan Yu, Guan Gong, Guan Di, this great man of loyalty, integrity, and justice lived during the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Ep. 80 | Bo Yibo
This week we look at a committed Communist Party leader who played an important role in steering China’s economy and financial system from 1949 to 1966 and during the Deng era.
Ep. 79 | Carl Crow
This time we look at Missouri-born Carl Crow (1883-1945). Though pretty much forgotten today, Carl Crow lived an amazing life and was a prolific writer.
Ep. 76 | Buddhism, Xuanzang, and the Silk Road
Another fortnight, another China History Podcast. We return to the Silk Road and focus our attention on the monk Xuanzang. His was an interesting life.
Ep. 77 | The Silk Road and Marco Polo
In this farewell look at the Silk Road, we discuss a few more interesting things and then give the travels and adventures of Marco Polo a once over.
Ep. 75 | Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping left U.S. soil last night after taking in the Laker game at Staples Center. His visit this week went off without a hitch. Today we look at Xi Jinping’s life in the context of PRC history.
Ep. 73 | The Early Years of the Silk Road
Laszlo’s back from Germany and after a long delay we pick up where we left off. In this episode, we reacquaint ourselves with the background and early years of the Silk Road.
Ep. 72 | The Hong Kong Triads
The Triads of Hong Kong have an interesting historical past that shaped their development throughout the years. Today we look at their origins and some of the more important historic events that made them the violent international criminal gangs they are today.
Ep. 71 | Ouyang Xiu
This week we look at the great Song Dynasty statesman and sage Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072). In this episode, we’ll review aspects of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and Ouyang Xiu’s place in this amazing age in China.