2. The Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) is usually reduced to a fanatical religious uprising, but its roots ran much deeper. Driven by a powerful mix of social, economic, and spiritual discontent, the movement envisioned a radically egalitarian society that threatened China’s imperial status quo. Its leader, Hong Xiuquan, attracted millions who sought relief from poverty and oppression. While the rebellion is remembered mostly for its staggering violence and death toll, its revolutionary ideas and challenges to Qing rule are often ignored.
