The History of China Podcast

11/11/2025

#311 - Qing 42: Charting the Collision Course

The 19th century is pretty rough on Qing China. We're going to need to set things up a bit before we start knocking the dominoes down...

30/10/2025

#310 - Strange Tales X.2: An Unseen Balance

14/10/2025

#308 - Zheng Yi Sao, Pt. 2: Into the Tiger's Mouth

Has the Pirate Queen bitten off more than even she can chew?

30/09/2025

EARLY ACCESS - R. Glasspoole's harrowing firsthand account of being taken captive by the Red Flag Fleet & held for ransom for nearly 3 months in 1809!

Out a week early for Patreon subscribers!

Get more from Chris Stewart on Patreon

25/09/2025

25/09/2025

#307 - Zheng Yi Sao, Pt. 1: Murders & Acquisitions, Mostly

"Do you like Chinese Pirates of the 1800s?"

"They're okay...?"

"Their early work was a little too 'new-wave' for my taste. But when the Red Flags came out in 1805, I think they really came into their own!"

16/09/2025

We Pardon. All. The Pirates. And. Make. Them. Naval Officers.

And you’ve got nothing to fear,
Piracy Amnesty is a good idear

(Where you goin? Hear us out! Hear us out! Don’t leave! Hear us out! Where you goin? Don’t leave!)

15/09/2025

#306 - Qing 41: Dead Men Tell No Tales

0:00-16:25: Prelude to Piracy - a highlight reel of piracy on the Chinese coasts from Ming to early Qing (1400~1680)

16:25-1:00:00: Corsairs of the Qing Coast - The Jiaqing Emperor must confront the insane power of the pirates

08/09/2025

#305- Qing 40: Heshen Must Die!

The Jiaqing Emperor takes the helm and... course-corrects...

31/08/2025

#304 - Qing 39: Twilight of the Dragon

Qianlong's reign was China at the height of its power and glory, but as that era draws to its close, the winds of change are blowing ever stronger...

28/08/2025

The Qianlong Emperor [r. 1735-1799] enshrined his conquests as the "Ten Complete Victories" - he even had a nickname: 十全老人: "The Old Man of the Ten Victories"

He went so far as to have it carved onto his own white-jade imperial seal.

But your "World's Best Dad" mug is cool, too, I guess...