#98 - Tang 16: All Along the Watchtowers

The History of China

Chris Stewart

History

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 May 2016

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We leave the capital behind to take a tour of the Tang Empire’s neighbors, both old and new. A tenuous peace with Tibet leads to a westward push putting the Chinese into contact – and eventual conflict – with the Islamic Abbasid Caliphate. Meanwhile, to the north and east rebellious Khitan tribesmen will spark a huge military buildup in the region under the control of one man, while the former Goguryeo reorganizes itself into the powerful state of Balhae, forcing the Tang Court to re-assess its diplomatic options. Time Period Covered: 730-750 CE Major Historical Figures: Tang Dynasty: Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) [r. 712-756] Gen. Zhang Shougui, Military Governor of Fanyang Gen. An Lushan, Military Governor of Pinglu, Prince of Dongping Tibetan Kingdom: Turgesh Kaghanate: Sulu Kaghan [d. 738] Abbasid Islamic Caliphate: Second Turkic Kaghanate: Bilgé Kaghan [r. 716-734] Kul Tigin [d. 731] Khitan and Xi Tribes: Ketuyu [d. 733] Balhae Kingdom: King Go [r. 698-719] King Mu [r. 719-737] King Mun [r. 737-793] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.
0:05.0	Before we launch into the show today, let me first recommend that, after you're done here, of course,
0:10.0	you go check out Royfield Brown's excellent 10 American President's podcast.
0:14.6	In each show Royfield has a guest give us the life and legacy of 10 of the U.S.
0:19.0	most influential leaders.
0:21.2	My personal favorite episode is in fact the first, which is the life and
0:24.8	administration of Richard Nixon, as told by none other than Dan Carlin.
0:28.6	Yeah, that Dan Carlin.
0:30.6	Please give it a listen, and while you're doing that check out all of the other shows on offer through
0:35.2	the Agora Podcast Network at W.W.orga Podcast Network.
0:40.0	Thanks again and enjoy the show. And welcome to the history of China.
0:57.0	Episode 98, all along the watch towers.
1:02.0	Last time we focused on the economic and domestic... Towers.
1:02.8	Last time, we focused on the economic and domestic policies that shaped Shenzong's middle reign
1:06.9	during the 730s and early 40s.
1:09.6	Culminating in both that partial solution to the Tong Empire's longstanding currency crisis,
1:15.0	as well as the rise of the minister, Lylin-Fu, to the highest levels of officialdom,
1:19.2	and virtually unchallenged in his authority.
1:21.6	Today, however, we're going to move away from the goings-on of the capital to instead go on a bit of a tour of the Tong Empire's borders as a whole.
1:30.0	As we look at the changing situation between China and its many neighbors.
1:33.4	And just as importantly, those who would be trusted to guard the empire from its enemies.
1:38.0	And how those decisions will shape the course of the later 8th century for Schwenzonang's China and beyond. We're going to start today in the west,
	...

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