Episode
The Battle That Ended China's First Empire — Xiang Yu's Greatest Victory | Silk and Steel
- Podcast
- UK Column Radio
- Published
- Jul 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3400
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Summary
The Battle of Julu (207 BC) stands among the most decisive military engagements in Chinese history. It marked the beginning of the end for the mighty Qin Dynasty—the empire that first unified China under Qin Shi Huang. In this episode of the Silk & Steel Chinese History Series, Carl Zha and JJ continue their exploration of the collapse of the Qin Empire as they examine how a peasant rebellion evolved into a full-scale civil war. They explain how Xiang Yu emerged as one of history's greatest battlefield commanders when he defeated the seemingly invincible Qin army despite overwhelming odds. The discussion covers: • Why the Qin Empire unravelled so quickly after unification • The massive peasant rebellions that shook China • Zhang Han and the desperate mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of convict labourers • The strategic brilliance of Xiang Yu at the Battle of Julu • Why neighbouring armies refused to fight—and how Xiang Yu inspired them • The famous "burn the boats" strategy and its historical significance • How this battle sealed the fate of the Qin Dynasty • The coming rivalry between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang • The road toward the founding of the Han Dynasty Whether you're interested in Chinese history, ancient warfare, military strategy, or the rise and fall of civilisations, this episode offers a detailed look at one of the pivotal turning points in world history. ► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings here ► [UK Column Website] Explore all our written and video content on the official UK Column website ► [Support UK Column] Please donate to support our independent journalism & investigative journalism ► [UK Column YouTube] Please subscribe to the UK Colum…