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Short History Of...

The Forbidden City

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.84.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nestled deep in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City stands as one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Built in the early 15th century as the secretive seat of imperial rule, it’s the largest palace complex anywhere in the world, and the biggest wooden structure on earth. But how did an audacious coup lead to the construction of this mysterious compound? What was life like inside the gated city? And how did it survive revolution, civil war, invasion, and natural disasters, to remain relevant even today?   This is a Short History Of The Forbidden City. A Noiser Production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to Dr Stephen Whiteman, a Reader in the Art and Architecture of China at The Courtauld Institute of Art.  Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to https://www.noiser.com/noiser-plus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a paid advertisement from Ancestry.

0:04.0

It's Women's History Month, and I've been thinking of the women in my family who have paved the way for me.

0:10.0

Here in the UK, we're often brought up knowing what our fathers and grandfathers did in World War I and World War II.

0:16.0

But what about our female ancestors? What parts did they play in those conflicts?

0:21.6

Personally, I don't know a huge amount about my own family history,

0:24.6

but I'm fascinated to find out more.

0:26.6

And that's where ancestry comes in.

0:28.6

With ancestry, you too can discover more about the pioneering women

0:33.6

who shaped who you are today.

0:35.6

You can trace their stories with free access to millions of records.

0:39.4

These records include, for example, the 1921 census of England and Wales.

0:44.5

It offers a snapshot of life after World War I,

0:47.4

when women's role in society was really in flux.

0:50.6

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0:52.4

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0:54.7

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0:58.6

Simply register your name and email at Ancestry.co.uk to get free unlimited searches and views of the 1921 census,

1:06.2

plus millions more records.

1:08.4

Offer ends 9th of March. It's January 1420, near a marble quarry around 40 miles southwest of Beijing, China.

1:28.3

On the side of a wide, ice-covered road, a young man in his early 20s huddles among hundreds of other laborers.

1:36.3

The bitter cold bites his cheeks, and his breath billows out in a huff of steam.

1:42.3

He bounces on his heels to get the blood flowing,

...

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