Introduction The mid-19th century was a time of unprecedented upheaval for imperial China. In the span of just a few decades, the Qing Dynasty faced foreign aggression, internal strife, and social upheavals that would shake its foundations. Foremost among these crises was the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864), a massive civil war led by a visionary zealot … Continue reading Rebellion and Reform: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Crisis of the Mid-19th Century (1850–1864)