History

Barbarians at the Gate: Touring China with historian Yajun Mo

Barbarians at the Gate: Touring China with historian Yajun Mo

On the latest episode of Barbarians at the Gate, David and I interview Professor Mo Yajun about her book Touring China: A History of Travel Culture, 1912-1949, a fascinating history of the development of China’s travel industry in the Republican period.

On Thin Ice: When Dutch Traders Challenged the Qing Empire for Skating Glory

On Thin Ice: When Dutch Traders Challenged the Qing Empire for Skating Glory

Historian Tonio Andrade recalls a mostly forgotten moment of 18th-century Chinese diplomacy and winter sports history

Weekend Walk: Take a Stroll Through History Around Beijing's Lakes District

Weekend Walk: Take a Stroll Through History Around Beijing's Lakes District

The shores around the lakes known as Houhai have some of the best walking routes in Beijing.

Mandarin Mayhem III: The Cantonese Conundrum with author and journalist James Griffiths

Mandarin Mayhem III: The Cantonese Conundrum with author and journalist James Griffiths

In this episode, Jeremiah and David talk with James Griffiths, Asia Correspondent for the Globe and Mail, about his new book Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language.

Best.Named.Dog.Ever

Best.Named.Dog.Ever

Don’t let their fluffy hair and judging eyes fool you, Pekingese dogs are hiding a secret. Their history encompasses torture, hubris, war, and some very long sleeves. Most importantly these dogs — well, one in particular — may hold the key to understanding the sometimes vexed relationship China has with the West.

Barbarians at the Gate: The Destruction of the Yuanmingyuan

Barbarians at the Gate: The Destruction of the Yuanmingyuan

This month marks the 160th anniversary of the destruction of the Yuanmingyuan. In this episode, David and I talk about the events leading up to the looting and razing of the gardens and the shifting meaning of "National Humiliation" in China today.

Barbarians at the Gate: China's New Youth

Barbarians at the Gate: China's New Youth

Jeremiah and David catch up with writer, editor, and journalist Alec Ash, to discuss the new US edition of his 2016 book Wish Lanterns: Young Lives in New China.

Barbarians at the Gate: Neither boxers nor a rebellion...Discuss!

Barbarians at the Gate: Neither boxers nor a rebellion...Discuss!

On the latest episode of Barbarians at the Gate, David Moser and I are joined by the excellent Jeffrey Wasserstrom to discuss Jeff's new research, the Boxer War, and whether or not Covid-19 is just the latest example of the Curse of the Metal Rat.