Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong cover image

China, pt. 1 -- Making the Middle Kingdom

Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong

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The Transformation of the Chinese Empire

In the three hundreds b c, the duke shia of chin took on a scholar named shang yang as his chancellor. He instructed him to further reform the government and the legal system. Everyone in society was gradually ranked almost like a military unit with ranks given out mainly for deeds in warfare. The big noble houses were rendered impotent. All power was consolidated at the royal feudal holdings - those nobles who still existed had very little political power.

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