Linked by History

Adherent to Confucianism corrupted by absolute power or clever plotter who feigned virtuousness to usurp the throne? The life of Wang Mang (45 BC - 23 AD) was full of contradictions. He lived a virtuous life throughout his early years, staying in the good graces of his aunt, Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun. Her influence over the young Western Han emperors who succeeded her husband paved the way for Wang Mang's clever coup.
Whereas a more virtuous man aided their rulers, Wang Mang took advantage of their inexperience. This ultimately gave rise to the Xin dynasty, which would last for a grand total of 14 years before Wang Mang was deposed. He went from beloved by all to detested by the realm.
The writing may have been on the wall early, as he forced many (and perhaps all) of his sons to commit suicide. He cheated on his wife constantly. He forced his daughter to marry as a child, then killed off her husband shortly after. Are these the actions of great Confucian practitioner?
Nope.
But the question is: was he like this from the beginning or did power corrupt him? Think about that as you listening to Linked by History's episode about Wang Mang, the first and only emperor of China's Xin dynasty.
Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters:
Wang Mang - our protagonist
(Future) Empress Ping - Wang Mang's daughter
Wang Zhengjun - Empress (for a time) and Wang Mang's aunt
Emperor Ai - 2nd Successor to Zhenjun's husband
Chunyu Zhang - political rival of Wang Mang
Princess Dowager Fu (AKA Grandma Fu) - Emperor Ai's grandmother

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Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall

Sun Quan (182-252 AD) grew up in one of China's most tumultuous eras, The Three Kingdoms period. At birth, no one expected anything of him or his family. Yet, this chaotic period, filled with rebellions, plagues, and civil war, offered his father the chance to catapult his family into the limelight.

For the first 18 years of Sun Quan's life, his father, and later his elder brother, dominated the battlefields. They attracted talented followers with their magnetic personalities, but both fought with reckless abandon and died at early ages.

This gave Sun Quan control over an increasingly influential realm at age 18. Unlike his father and elder brother, he lacked the talent for tactics or melee combat. Where he did excel though, was in the hiring of and delegating to talented individuals. His success and longevity enabled him to almost seize the emperor's throne, making the self-inflicted demise of him and his family all the more tragic.

In this supersized episode, you'll learn not just about Sun Quan, but about the Three Kingdoms period from its most unsung side. This era would later influence one of China's four great classical novels, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, by Luo Guanzhong. In modern times, this has led to dozens of video games like Dynasty Warriors and TV/Film adaptations like Red Cliff. And I'll cover all of that as well, because to understand Sun Quan's life, you'll need to understand the context surrounding it.

Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters (with my rough English phonetics as necessary):
Sun Leaders and Subordinates
Sun Quan (Sooh'in Chu'win) - our protagonist
Wentai AKA Sun Jian - Sun Quan's father
Lady Wu - Sun Quan's mother
Sun Ce (Sooh'in Tsuh) - Sun Quan's elder brother
Zhang Zhao (Jang Jao) - Sun Quan's Chief Clerk
Zhou Yu (J'oe You) - Sun Ce's BFF and Sun Quan's first lead general
Lu Su - Sun Quan's second lead general
Lü Meng - Sun Quan's third lead general
Lu Xun (Loo Shoon) - Sun Quan's fourth lead general and eventual chancellor
Sun He (Sooh'in Huuh) - Sun Quan's third son
Rival Clans
Yuan Shu - loser warlord that Sun Jian and Sun Ce briefly served
Liu Bei (Lee'oh Bay) - Southwestern China warlord and ally/rival of Sun Quan
Guan Yu - Liu Bei's top general and China's best beard
Cao Cao (T'ao T'ao) - Northern China warlord and chief Sun Quan antagonist
Cao Pi (T'ao Pee) - Cao Cao's son
Sima Yi - Regent for Cao Cao's grandson

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Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall

While most people familiar with Lucilla (150 - 182 AD) know her from the Gladiator Cinematic Universe, she differed significantly in real life from her movie character. Enchanted by power and all of its trappings, this one-time Roman empress blended nobility and greed in a unique combination.
Just an example: whereas she and Maximus Decimus got along swimmingly in Gladiator, the actual Lucilla strongly disliked her second husband (who was quite similar to Maximus). Maximus's honorable nature captivated movie Lucilla, but real Lucilla disparaged her second husband's lack of ambition. But I wouldn't go so far to say Marcus Aurelius's daughter was a bad person. I mean, she's certainly better her brother, Commodus, and I'd argue was easily the best kid that Rome's philosopher emperor produced.
The thing is: people are complex creatures. Lucilla's life story is defined by woe and her resilience to rise above it. After all, how would you turn out if you lost half a dozen siblings, both parents, your husband, and your empress title all before turning 30?
Mull it over while listening to this Linked by History episode about Lucilla of Rome.
Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters:
Lucilla - our protagonist
Marcus Aurelius - One of Rome's most revered emperors and Lucilla's father
Faustina the Younger - Loving mother of Lucilla
Lucius Verus - Lucilla's first husband
Commodus - Lucilla's brother...unfortunately for her

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Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall

What do you get when you combine a naturalist with a disciplined soldier? None other than Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 AD). With a work ethic few could match, he produced tome after tome of insights into the natural world. He did all of this while primarily working as either a soldier, lawyer, or governor until meeting his end in Pompeii. Ever dedicated to the empire, the only thing Pliny loved more than Rome was natural science.
Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters:
Pliny the Elder - our protagonist
Publius Pomponius Secundus - Pliny's mentor a good friend
Pliny the Younger - The Elder's nephew and adopted son
Emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian - Ordered list of Emperors during Pliny's life
Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music:

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Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall

What happens when you raise a boy as a warrior from birth, then give him the reins to conquer all the neighboring tribes and kingdoms on your border? He develops into one of the greatest champions of one of the world's most peaceful religions, Mahayana Buddhism.
Obviously.
Kanishka the Great (79 - 150 AD) may have earned more credit than he deserved, but there's no doubt his influence in shaping the Silk Road altered history in a profound way.
Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters:
Kanishka - our protagonist
Ashvaghosha - revered Buddhist monk in Kanishka's inner circle

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Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall