Skythewood t1_j37qjdc wrote on January 6, 2023 at 4:56 PM

Reply to comment by Khelthuzaad in TIL of execution by Breaking Wheel that would start with tying the body to a wheel, breaking the bones of the limbs, braiding the broken limbs through the spokes and leaving the body to be eaten by scavenging animals and birds. by muadib1974

China is too vast during ancient times for most of it's population to fight anyone other then each other.

ShortOldFatGuy t1_j39aa0e wrote on January 6, 2023 at 10:37 PM

Amazing how external threats (those wonderful Mongols, et. al.) always manage to bring about brotherly love between fueding families. It can even inspire family projects - like a wall around the middle kingdom. As a footnote, Machevelli counseled rulers in The Prince that if they feared internal foes most - then build walls. If external foes were the greatest danger, then do not build them. (Wonder if Trump was basing his Mexican wall plan on this counsel?)