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The Taiping Rebellion was one of the deadliest conflicts in history from "summary" of The Story of China by Michael Wood
The Taiping Rebellion, which erupted in China in the mid-19th century, stands out as one of the most devastating conflicts the world has ever seen. With an estimated death toll of over 20 million people, it surpassed even the casualties of World War I. The rebellion was led by a man named Hong Xiuquan, who believed himself to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ and sought to establish a Heavenly Kingdom on Earth. The Taiping rebels, fueled by a potent mix of religious fervor and discontent with the ruling Qing dynasty, launched a full-scale war against the imperial forces. They quickly gained control of large swathes of territory in southern China, including the important city of Nanjing. The rebels' radical social and political agenda, which included the abolition of private property and the establishment of gender equality, attracted many followers from the lower classes. The Qing government, caught off guard by the scale and ferocity of the rebellion, struggled to contain the uprising. The conflict dragged on for more than a decade, laying waste to the countryside and causing immense suffering to the civilian population. Both sides engaged in brutal acts of violence, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life. The fighting also had a profound impact on the Chinese economy, which was already weakened by internal strife and foreign intervention. As the rebellion dragged on, foreign powers such as Britain and France took advantage of the chaos to further their own interests in China. The Taiping Rebellion, with its staggering death toll and far-reaching consequences, left a deep scar on the Chinese psyche and reshaped the course of Chinese history. The legacy of the rebellion continued to be felt long after the last shot was fired, serving as a stark reminder of the destructive power of civil conflict.
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