Chinese History Series—Founder of the Han Dynasty: From Local Bully to Rebel Leader | Silk and Steel
With the first wave of rebellion crushed, we turn our attention to the man who would ultimately be founder of the Han Dynasty: Liu Bang. This episode is a deep dive into his early life, family background, and the social networks that propelled him from a "local bum" to a rebel leader. We trace his lineage back to the aristocratic Fan family of the Jin state (who claimed descent from the sage king Yao), his grandfather's fall from nobility (betraying the city of Feng to Chu), and how this "fallen aristocracy" still retained local prestige.
We then follow Liu Bang's colorful early career: his…
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