Leading the Middle Kingdom: Eight emperors and how they shaped China

Mr Smith
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Welcome to Leading the Middle Kingdom: Eight Chinese Emperors, where history comes alive through the captivating stories of China’s most powerful leaders. Join us as we delve into the lives, achievements and legacies of eight extraordinary emperors who shaped the course of the world’s oldest civilisation - and left their mark on the world today.

Episodes

  1. 08/29/2025

    Episode 12: The past is prologue

    For our final podcast, join me as we look back on the lives of our emperors and what their history might say about modern China.

    26 min

  2. 08/22/2025

    Episode 11: Fall

    This time we look at the fall of the Chinese empire and the last emperor, Puyi.

    22 min

  3. 08/15/2025

    Episode 10: Twilight

    This week we look at the woman who steadied the empire after the shocks of the Opium Wars and ruled China in all but name for half a century

    30 min

  4. 08/09/2025

    Episode 9: Humiliation

    This time we look at the life of the Daoguang Emperor and the humiliation of the opium wars.

    24 min

  5. 08/05/2025

    Episode 8: Outsider

    Foreign takeover or merging of two cultures? This time we look at Kublai Khan - the first non-Chinese emperor.

    31 min

  6. 08/01/2025

    Episode 7: Interlude - the An Lushan Rebellion

    This time we take a step away from our emperors to look at the aftermath of Wu Zetian’s rule and the effect the An Lushan rebellion had on the country.

    29 min

  7. 07/20/2025

    Episode 6: Disruption

    Wu Zetian was unique amongst all the Chinese emperors - the only woman to assume the title. Join me as we take a look at the life of this extraordinary woman.

    28 min

  8. 07/12/2025

    Episode 5: Flourishing

    Join me as we look at the founder of one of China’s golden ages - Tang Taizong

    29 min

  9. 07/03/2025

    Episode 4: Interlude

    Join me as we take a short break from our emperors to look at the war of the Three Kingdoms.

    13 min

  10. 06/30/2025

    Episode 3: Expansion

    Join me this time as we look at the man who nearly doubled the size of his empire - Han Wudi.

    26 min

  11. 06/26/2025

    Episode 2: Foundation

    Join us for this episode, where we learn more about the man who became the first emperor of a unified China.

    32 min

  12. 06/22/2025

    Episode 1: Foreward

    Let’s begin our journey through two thousand years of Chinese history by looking at the state of the country before the advent of the first emperor.

    29 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to Leading the Middle Kingdom: Eight Chinese Emperors, where history comes alive through the captivating stories of China’s most powerful leaders. Join us as we delve into the lives, achievements and legacies of eight extraordinary emperors who shaped the course of the world’s oldest civilisation - and left their mark on the world today.

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