China - - Again!

This is coolbert:

Here is another major rebellion [war] in Chinese history that resulted in a catastrophic and almost unimaginable death toll!

The An Lushan Rebellion.

"Death toll, legacy, and historical implications"

"The toll of dead and missing, including those caused by suppression and famine, is estimated at up to 36 million, which would be 2/3 of the total tax-roll population at the time. Numerically, this was the highest toll for any event for nearly 1200 years, until World War II surpassed it with over 62 million deaths."

THESE FIGURES ARE TO BE BELIEVED! THE CHINESE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD CENSUS TAKERS. ADMINISTRATION AND RECORD KEEPING DURING THE TANG DYNASTY WAS VERY EFFICIENT. BELIEVE THOSE FIGURES!!

"The rebellion greatly weakened the centralized bureaucracy of the Tang Dynasty . . . In addition to being politically and economically detrimental, the An Shi rebellion also damaged the intellectual culture of the Tang Dynasty."

[the Chinese themselves consider the Tang Dynasty to be the high point of their cultural development!! When President Clinton not so long ago paid a state visit to China, he was greeted in the manner as a Tang Emperor would have done for visiting dignitary. Complete with medieval dress and pageantry!!]

"The An Shi Rebellion (simplified Chinese: 安史之乱) took place in China during the Tang Dynasty, from December 16, 755 to February 17, 763 . . . The alternative term An Lushan Rebellion is also commonly used."

"An Lushan planned a revolt, taking advantage of the absence of strong troops guarding the palace and of the popular discontent with the extravagant Tang court caused by a string of natural disasters."

Not only the result of popular discontent and a string of natural disasters. ALSO A RESPONSE TO THE CHINESE LOSS AT THE BATTLE OF TALAS.

"The Battle of Talas in 751 was a conflict between the Arab Abbasid Caliphate and the Chinese Tang Dynasty for control of the Syr Darya. The Chinese army was defeated following the routing of their troops by the Abbasids on the bank of the Talas River."

Talas! One of the most significant events in history. Defeat of the Chinese army by a Muslim army marked the end of Tang expansion into central Asia. From that point forward [751], the Tang empire was in decline. Central Asia became then and is today part of the umma [Islamic nation]!

I would venture a guess that most of the 36 million [?]deaths were caused by famine and disease. Such a breakdown of the society occurred that normal life became impossible. Wars and natural disasters in Asian nations tend to be extremely horrific with regard to loss of life because of the teeming populations and fevered resolve of the combatants. NO HOLDS BARRED WARFARE TENDS TO BE THE RULE!!

coolbert.