247. The Origins of the Zhou 1046 BC: Wine Lakes, Meat Forests & the Battle of Muye

Dan and Bernie recorded this together in Stockholm!

Before Confucius, before the Spring and Autumn period, and before the political world we've been exploring on Fan of History, there was the revolution that created it.

Bernie and Dan travel back to the final days of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou—the civilization Confucius would look back upon centuries later as a model of political and moral order.

Along the way we meet King Wen and King Wu, the emerging idea of Heaven's approval of righteous rule, and some crazy accusations: a lake of wine, a forest of meat, horrific punishments, and even human meat cakes.

Legend, propaganda and history collide as the Zhou prepare to challenge the Shang at the Battle of Muye.

Oh and we recorded this IN PERSON in Sweden with special guest Thomas the Norwegian Viking (dude's got hands that can definitely crush skulls!)

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Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AMQOoqVGQVmbotdkcgn48?si=_BTVBIiwRkKYYZBBSUgMeg

YouTube episode I'm watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8f51HtfyK0

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