What if China Had Discovered the New World?

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2017

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode is second in our Alternate History Week series, where I look at famous books of alternate history and discuss why I think their alternate timelines aren't plausible. Today's book is Kim Stanley Robinson's 2002 book The Years of Rice and Salt. It explores how world history would have developed if the Black Death had killed 99 percent of Europe's population, with the Islamic world, the Chinese, and American Indians filling in the void. One section discusses China discovering and colonizing the New World. Here's why I think China would have never done so. TO HELP OUT THE SHOW Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

Transcript

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0:00.0	They were some of the most powerful men who've ever lived.
0:02.8	They waged war, forged peace, and altered the fates of billions of people,
0:06.9	and yet they were just as human, just as flawed as you and me.
0:10.6	They were the presidents of the United States, and they are the subjects of the history podcast
0:15.0	this American president. In each episode of this American president, we explore how flawed men
0:20.5	have managed this awesome responsibility. To listen now, go to pathanonpodcast.com or search
0:26.8	this American president on your favorite podcast platform.
0:30.2	War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding
0:34.9	right down to the present. Wars made the United States independent, kept it together,
0:39.8	increased its size, and established it as a global superpower.
0:43.5	Hi, I'm James Early, host of the Key Battles of American History podcast.
0:47.8	In each episode, I discuss American history through the lens of the most important battles
0:52.1	of America's Wars. To start listening now, go to pathanonpodcast.com or search Key Battles
0:58.5	of American History on your favorite podcast platform.
1:04.4	Welcome to the History Unplugged Podcast, the unscripted show that celebrates unsung heroes,
1:11.0	myth busts historical lies, and rediscoveres the forgotten stories that changed our world.
1:17.6	I'm your host, Scott Rank.
1:23.1	Hi, everyone. Welcome to one of those in-between episodes where I answer any question you have
1:28.4	about history. We are continuing our alternate history week, where I look at great works of
1:34.6	alternate history and talk about why their scenario is not plausible. In yesterday's episode,
1:39.7	I mentioned the book, 1632. Today, I'm going to talk about a wonderful book about alternate
1:45.5	history called The Years of Rice and Salt. This one is by Kim Stanley Robinson, who's written a
	...

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