We turn for the first time to events in the People's Republic of China. Mao Zedong, the aging revolutionary and leader of the PRC, launches a last-ditch effort to ensure his continued relevance in a fractious governing party: the Cultural Revolution. Millions of people, mostly young, fan out through the cities and countryside enforcing the tenets of "Mao Zedong Thought," while other Communist leaders, like Lin Biao and Zhou Enlai, try their best to rein in the chaos from behind the scenes without risking their own necks. The result is years of political and cultural chaos and millions of deaths.

Length: 18:01

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode (Bonus, Recap & Explainer): October 3, 2021

Next Regular Episode: October 10, 2021