An Lushan Rebellion

In this episode, we explore the An Lushan Rebellion, the devastating civil war that shook China’s Tang Dynasty from 755 to 763. We trace the rise of the powerful general An Lushan, his rebellion against imperial rule, the creation of the short-lived Yan Dynasty, and the dramatic battles, capital seizures, and betrayals that eventually brought the uprising to an end. Along the way, we examine the enormous human and economic cost of the conflict, including famine, population displacement, and widespread destruction, before considering its lasting political consequences: the growing power of regional warlords, the weakening of central authority, and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty’s long decline.