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

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

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.

Publisher

Mr Smith

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Jun 2025

Latest episode

29 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Aug 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.

2. 

   22 Aug 2025

   Episode 11: Fall

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

3. 

   15 Aug 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

4. 

   9 Aug 2025

   Episode 9: Humiliation

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

5. 

   5 Aug 2025

   Episode 8: Outsider

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

6. 

   1 Aug 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.

7. 

   20 Jul 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.

8. 

   12 Jul 2025

   Episode 5: Flourishing

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

9. 

   3 Jul 2025

   Episode 4: Interlude

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

10. 

    30 Jun 2025

    Episode 3: Expansion

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

11. 

    26 Jun 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.

12. 

    22 Jun 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.

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Guest appearances

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