Every Chinese Emperor Explained (Part 3: Ming to Qing): How China's Last Emperors Lost the World

A peasant's son becomes the most powerful man on Earth. His dynasty builds the Forbidden City, sends fleets to Africa, and rules 100 million people. Then — in less than 300 years — it collapses into chaos. The dynasty that replaces it becomes even greater. Then it too falls — humiliated by European powers with guns it could have built itself. How do two of China's greatest dynasties end in disaster? Because their emperors made choices. Some brilliant. Some catastrophic. And one — the decision to close China to the outside world — changed the course of history.