Episode 2

Available for over a year

The peasant rebel who topples a dynasty is a familiar theme in Chinese history. During the cultural revolution, the Communists decided that the past was getting in the way of the future and Chairman Mao adopted the imperial model of absolutism and the use of force. Why did people allow such persecution? Carrie Gracie explores some of the most important stories from Chinese history. What do these tales say about China today? (Image: The silouette of a man waving a yellow flag with a red star, Credit: AFP/Getty Images)