History Extra podcast The Taiping Rebellion: everything you wanted to know
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May 10, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Stephen R Platt, a Professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with expertise in Chinese history, sheds light on the Taiping Rebellion, the bloodiest civil war in history that devastated China from 1850 to 1864. He explains the rebellion's obscure status in global narratives despite its staggering 20 million death toll. Platt shares insights on the economic turmoil leading to the conflict, the rise of the charismatic leader Hong Xiuquan, and the complexities of British intervention, all while highlighting the rebellion's lasting impact on modern China.
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Economic Crisis Fuels Rebellion
- The Taiping Rebellion erupted amid severe economic crisis and unemployment in South China after the Opium War.
- Foreign trade shifts and a currency crisis destabilized livelihoods and increased tax burdens on peasants dramatically.
Hong's Visionary Breakdown
- Hong Xiuquan, a talented Hakka scholar, repeatedly failed the imperial exams and had a nervous breakdown.
- During his coma, he had visions that led him to believe he was Jesus Christ's younger brother destined to overthrow the Qing.
Religious Uprising to Rebel Army
- The Taiping movement began as a religious sect promising healing and protection from disease.
- It evolved into a massive rebel army seeking to overthrow the Manchu-led Qing and establish a Christian kingdom in China.
