The China History Podcast

Discover how the opening of the Suez Canal transformed Singapore into a thriving trade hub in the 19th century. Explore the rise of rubber exports and the impact of key figures like Henry Wickham. Delve into the complexities of British colonial dynamics and the rich cultural landscape of Singapore. Uncover captivating stories, including a circus escape and notable riots that reflect social tensions. Finally, witness the dramatic lead-up to World War II and the critical military missteps that resulted in Japan's invasion.

Following the 1824 Treaty of London, Singapore begins its constant infrastructure development. The discovery of Gutta-Percha sparks economic growth amid rising labor demand and community organization among the Teochew and Hokkien. Secret societies emerge, providing a mix of support and challenge to local life. With tin discovered in nearby Perak State, Singapore positions itself in new trade opportunities. Political lobby efforts for Crown Colony status intensify as communal tensions break out, foreshadowing future challenges.

Delve into the critical years that shaped Singapore after its establishment as a trading hub. Discover how William Farquhar managed an early period rife with challenges and geopolitical tensions, and why his bold measures sparked outrage from the Dutch. Explore John Crawfurd's clever maneuvers to secure British interests while immigrants flocked to the island, creating a diverse community. Meet influential figures like Tan Tock Seng, whose entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundations for Singapore's growth and economic transformation.

Discover how the Portuguese conquest in 1511 reshaped the region and led to the rise of Singapore. Explore the intense competition among European powers, with the Dutch and British battling for dominance. Meet Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar, two pivotal figures whose ambitions set the stage for Singapore's colonial era. Delve into the daily lives aboard narrow boats and the strategic significance of Sentosa as a trading post. Uncover the complex geopolitical dynamics that birthed Singapore as a vital trading hub.

Explore the fascinating past of Singapore, from its legends and strategic coastal location to its early role in maritime trade influenced by monsoon winds. Discover the rise of Temasek, the decline of trade, and the birth of the Malacca Sultanate. Dive into stories of betrayal and conquest, along with the impact of early European observations on this vibrant region. This intriguing journey uncovers how historical events shaped Singapore before the British arrived, revealing a rich tapestry of culture and commerce.

First off, let me apologize for the less-than-optimal audio quality. This is a very informative interview. And for those of you who missed my very old episode from 2013 or thereabouts covering this topic, this discussion will be a real eye-opener. The history of the Chinese immigrant experience in Mexico (and Latin America) is not that well known. Hugo's ancestors emigrated to Mexico from Guangdong back in the 19th century. One of them, Wong Fook Chun was a major figure in the history of those times and he had an interesting interaction with the Qing-era reformer Kang Youwei. I hope you'll suffer through the lousy audio and that you'll get a lot out of this episode. Chinese-Mexican history was once filled with tragedy and violence. Again, sorry about the audio quality. Here's a link to his book, "America's Lost Chinese: The Rise and Fall of a Migrant Family Dream": https://a.co/d/0Yh5LiZ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is surprisingly not very well-known and certainly wasn't taught in my US history classes. Here's a story for you that many might find hard to believe. Perhaps you're already familiar with the history of America's Chinese Paper Sons. Less known is the story of the 1957 Chinese Confessions Program. In this episode, we'll look back on the early to mid-20th century. First I'll present a general overview of San Francisco's Paper Sons and some of the history and culture that surrounded it. Then we can take another romp through Red Scare America in the 1950s and the 1957 Chinese Confessions Program. This one, I'm sure most of you never read about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm presenting a simple but still informative overview of not only the Grand Canal but also the bigger subject of canals in China. The history of the Grand Canal isn't one clean linear story of a structure built all at one time. Although it measures over a thousand miles long, much of that distance was pre-existing in the form of rivers and old canals that were joined together to form an uninterrupted passage. A lot of the academic papers I used to research this topic, despite water being the main topic, were as dry as the day is long. I tried to make it all nice and simple and easy to digest. This World Heritage Site is well-known to many but its history, perhaps less so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's another CHP Special Episode. Not too long ago I had the chance to chat with Yokohama-based Scott Crawford, author of "Silk Road Centurian", "The Han-Xiongnu Wars", and a new one coming out any day now (co-written with his wife Alexis Kossiakoff), "The Phoenix and the Firebird." Scott has also written several works of short fiction that have appeared in fantasy, mystery, and horror magazines and anthologies. We talked mostly about the Han Dynasty and two books he has written, one non-fiction and another a work of fiction, both set in that exciting time period. Scott's Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BZTYTHHC/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=37c7279d-4be0-46f3-8d29-60771ed38fed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's a reading of an article recently published in the South China Morning Post, written by travel writer David Leffman. On his most recent trip to Yunnan to work on his upcoming book on the 1875 Margary Affair, David had a chance encounter with a taxi driver who was a sixth-generation descendent of Jiang Zonghan, someone closely related to the little-known but rather consequential event that took place in February 1875 along the Yunnan-Myanmar border. Here's a link to the article. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3272812/who-built-first-bridge-over-yangtze-river-unlikely-tale-chinese-slave-soldier-and-tycoon-jiang Website: https://www.davidleffman.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices