In this engaging discussion, historian John Man sheds light on Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. He reveals how this teenage king rose amidst chaos to unite rival states and build monumental projects like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army. The podcast delves into his ruthless methods, obsessive quest for immortality, and the paranoia that marked his reign. Man also explores the aftermath of his death and the enduring legacy he left on China, highlighting how one man's ambition reshaped an empire.
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insights INSIGHT
Qin's Rise in Warring States
In ancient China’s Warring States, seven kingdoms fought for supremacy through warfare and intrigue.
This chaos created the environment for Qin Shi Huang to rise and unify China under one rule.
insights INSIGHT
Legalism vs Confucianism
The era's political philosophy split between Confucianism and Legalism.
Qin Shi Huang adopted Legalism, believing peace required strict control and constant war readiness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ying Zheng’s Court Intrigue
Young Ying Zheng became king of Qin at 13 amid court intrigue.
His tutor Lu Buwei used cunning to guide him until the boy asserted control by exiling rivals.
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The Terracotta Army by John Man delves into the fascinating story of how and why these life-size figures of warriors and horses were created in the third century BC. Man weaves together history and personal experiences to tell the story of China's first emperor and the birth of a nation. The book provides an engaging narrative that explores the cultural and historical significance of the Terracotta Army.
How Countries Go Broke
Principles for Navigating the Big Debt Cycle, Where We Are Headed, and What We Should Do
Ray Dalio
In this book, Ray Dalio provides a groundbreaking analysis of the Big Debt Cycle, addressing critical questions about debt growth, the potential for a major reserve currency country like the US to go broke, and how to identify and mitigate debt-related risks. Dalio draws on his experience as a global macro investor and his study of 35 historical cases of governments facing financial crises over the past 100 years. He offers a template for identifying and managing debt problems, which he has discussed with treasury secretaries and central bankers worldwide. The book explains the mechanics of debt sustainability, potential government debt reduction strategies, and the role of central bank interventions in managing debt crises.
In the third century BC, China was a land fractured by war - a patchwork of rival kingdoms struggling for dominance. Out of this chaos rose a single, extraordinary figure who would reshape the course of history: Chin Shrr Hwong, the First Emperor of China.
His achievements were monumental, but his reign was marked by ruthlessness, so how did this teenage king rise to power? What drove him to undertake colossal projects like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army? And how might his obsession with immortality have led to his mysterious death?
This is a Short History Of The First Emperor of China.
A Noiser Production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to John Man, author of The Terracotta Army: China’s First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation.
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Short History Of... 
