A History of Japan

Against a backdrop of disunity and warfare, three philosophies would stand the test of time and continue to influence government, religion, and worldviews today. Join me as we explore Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism and the underlying assumptions which supported their adoption in ancient China.
Check out the supplemental post for more information!
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Global trade is a concept nearly as old as civilization itself. Ancient China utilized trade networks as a means of learning about other cultures, adopting and sharing new ideas, and promoting friendly tributary relations with their neighbors. The Han Dynasty, however, would push trade to its limits, eventually exchanging goods from as far away as western Europe.
Check out the supplemental post for a trade map, a roman coin, and the coolest legal tender ever created - knife money!
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In this episode, we explore the changes that began to occur in the southern and northern regions of the Korean Peninsula during the Yayoi Period, as well as the impact those changes had on Japan and China.
Don't forget to check out the supplementary post for some cool maps!
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War rages across Zhou Dynasty as the former states become kingdoms and set their eyes toward national domination. Ultimately the kingdom of Qin would claim the throne for themselves, thanks in part to the reforms of legalist scholar Shang Yang. After the Qin's collapse, the Han Dynasty would rise from their ashes and rule China for four hundred years.
Don't forget to check out the supplemental post for maps, artwork, and a very interesting re-creation of the pigments that originally adorned the terracotta army!
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In this episode, the Shang Dynasty falls and the Zhou Dynasty rises to take its place. But being the faction at the top is harder than it looks, and over time the Zhou suffer a gradual decline. However, the political and philosophical ideas which they nurtured continue to influence East Asian thought today.
Check out the supplemental post to see the maps. Who doesn't love maps?
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