The Taiping Rebellion: everything you wanted to know
History Extra podcast
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The Rise of Hong Xiuquan and the Taiping Rebellion
This chapter chronicles the life of Hong Xiuquan, detailing his transformation from a failed civil service candidate to the leader of the Taiping Rebellion after a religious awakening. It explores the origins, motivations, and spread of the rebellion, emphasizing its ideological fervor and the complexities of its diverse followers. The chapter also examines the Qing dynasty's struggles to quell the uprising amid a backdrop of imperial decline and military challenges.
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