After more than 40 days wandering in the desert Laszlo is back with a topic that languished on the list for more than six years. At last the early years of Russia-China relations can see the light of day (here at Teacup Media, that is). As you can see, this is another one of those hour plus episodes that was not long enough for two episodes and a bit overly long for one. Basically this covers the beginnings back in the late Ming when they first met and mostly in the Qing where all the history happened. This isn't a particularly deep dive on the subject. I first give you a 走马看花 view of the history of Russia's expansion east and how they ended up on the doorstep of Manchuria. Hope you don't mind.   TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE: Míng Dynasty 明朝 Second to last dynasty in Chinese Imperial history 1368-1644 Lóngqìng 隆庆 Ming Dynasty Emperor (1567-1572) Wànlì 万里 Son of Longqing Emperor, reigned a long time 1572-1620 Qing Dynasty 清朝 Last imperial dynasty in China 1644-1912 Xīnjiāng 新疆   Autonomous Region in the northwest of China, formerly referred to as Chinese Turkestan Hēilóng Jiāng 黑龙江 The Black Dragon River (The Amur, and name of Heilongjiang Province) Shùn Zhì 顺治   First emperor of the Qing Dynasty, 1643-1661 Pǔyí 溥仪   The Last Emperor, a.k.a. The Xuantong Emperor, reigned 1908-1912 Northern Sòng  北宋 The first half of the Song Dynasty, lasted from 960-1126 Kāngxī   康熙   Long reigning Qing Emperor, 1661-1722 Jiāyùguān   嘉峪关   The western terminus of the Great Wall of China Songgotu (Suǒ'étú) 索额图 Manchu diplomat during the reign of Kangxi Qiánlóng  乾隆  Another long reigning Qing emperor, 1735-1796 Treaty of Nanjing  南京条约 The marquee "Unequal Treaty" signed in 1842 Hóng Xiùquán 洪秀全 Rebel leader responsible for the Taiping Rebellion Jīntián, Guangxi 广西金田   Place where the Taiping Rebellion was launched Tàipíng Rebellion  太平天国运动   A bloody Rebellion and Civil War all in one, 1850-1864 Hēihé 黑河    City in northeast Manchuria (Heilongjiang) formerly known as Aigun Aìhún   瑷珲 Now called Heihe, formerly called Aigun, site of the signing of the Treaty of Aigun. Yìshān 奕山 Manchu diplomat who was forced into signing the Treaty of Aigun Qíshàn 琦善   Manchu diplomat also forced to sign unequal treaties Lín Zéxú 林则徐   Chinese hero who stood up to the foreign traders and torched their opium Hǔmén  虎门   Located on "The Bogue" in Guangdong, site where Lin Zexu burned the opium Guǎngdōng 广东  Southern province in China Convention of Chuenbi   穿鼻草约  (Chuānbí Cǎoyuē) signed 1841, never ratified. Ili  伊犁   (Yīlí) Town, valley and river name at the northwest border of Xinjiang - Kazakhstan Zuǒ Zōngtáng   左宗棠  (1812-1885) Military leader and statesman from Hunan Li-Lobanov Treaty 中俄密约   (known as the Zhōng É Mìyuē ), signed 1896 Lǐ Hóngzhāng 里鸿章   Co-signer of the Li-Lobanov Treaty), Chinese diplomat and statesman Liaotung Peninsula  辽东半岛 (Liáodōng Bàndǎo) The tip of peninsular Liaoning Province Lǚ Dà Zūdì Tiáoyuē 旅大租地条约   Convention for the Lease of the Liaotung Peninsula at Dalian (大连) Port Arthur Also known as Lüshunkou (旅顺口), Port located at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula Qīngdǎo 青岛   Scenic city in Shandong, once a German concession Wēihǎiwèi  威海卫   Another scenic city in Shandong, once a British concession, today known simply as Weihai 威海 If you'd like to brush up on your Russian History, may I recommend an old stalwart of mine: MARK SCHAUSS, PRESENTER OF THE RUSSIAN RULERS PODCAST I call it "The CHP of Russian History"