The Han Dynasty's Iron Age: Weapons, Farming, and the State

Lucas and Luna dive into the Han Dynasty's iron and steel revolution. How did state-run iron monopolies transform weaponry, agriculture, and daily life? They explore the blast furnace technology that gave Han swords a carbon-steel edge, the iron plowshares that boosted grain yields, and the political battles over state control—debated in the famous Discourses on Salt and Iron. Along the way, they meet the official Sang Hongyang, whose policies funded Emperor Wu's wars but sparked fierce controversy. This episode reveals how iron, more than silk or jade, literally built the Han golden age.

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