Mao Zedong: The deadliest dictator in history
AlyasInfo
[{'start': '0.171', 'end': '4.001', 'text': 'You already know about China — a country with a history spanning thousands of years'}, {'start': '4.147', 'end': '7.294', 'text': 'and one of the oldest human civilizations'}, {'start': '7.294', 'end': '13.539', 'text': "If we look at China's long history, Mao Zedong stands out as a prominent figure"}, {'start': '13.905', 'end': '19.149', 'text': 'in every sense: in terms of changes, ideologies, strange decisions, wars, and massacres'}, {'start': '19.734', 'end': '25.783', 'text': 'In 1893, Mao was born in the Chinese city of Shaoshan into a relatively prosperous family'}, {'start': '25.929', 'end': '30.368', 'text': '"Prosperous" in the sense that his father owned a piece of land'}, {'start': '30.661', 'end': '32.368', 'text': 'where he grew rice'}, {'start': '32.514', 'end': '37.075', 'text': 'which, at that time in China, was a big deal. In other words, they had enough to eat'}, {'start': '37.075', 'end': '38.634', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '38.634', 'end': '42.734', 'text': 'In those days, in China, a rich man was simply someone who could feed himself well'}, {'start': '42.880', 'end': '47.267', 'text': "Mao's family could sustain themselves from their small farm"}, {'start': '47.389', 'end': '52.365', 'text': 'That’s why, in his childhood, Mao didn’t face the hardships that other children commonly experienced'}, {'start': '52.609', 'end': '55.829', 'text': 'meaning, he wasn’t forced to eat all sorts of scraps and garbage'}, {'start': '56.122', 'end': '59.195', 'text': 'Another unusual thing about Mao’s family was that'}, {'start': '59.439', 'end': '61.073', 'text': 'he was an only child'}, {'start': '61.219', 'end': '66.147', 'text': 'At that time, it was common for Chinese families to have six or seven children'}, {'start': '66.147', 'end': '68.147', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '68.147', 'end': '71.738', 'text': 'Being an only child, Mao was sent to get an education'}, {'start': '71.738', 'end': '75.324', 'text': 'That meant not only was he well-fed'}, {'start': '75.495', 'end': '78.134', 'text': 'but he was also becoming more educated by the day'}, {'start': '78.329', 'end': '81.598', 'text': 'During his studies, Mao became a fan of Confucius'}, {'start': '81.598', 'end': '86.184', 'text': 'You probably know Confucius — one of China’s most famous philosophers'}, {'start': '86.404', 'end': '90.478', 'text': "To summarize Confucius' ideas"}, {'start': '90.844', 'end': '95.479', 'text': 'he emphasized being a good person and, especially, showing respect to elders'}, {'start': '95.625', 'end': '98.723', 'text': 'Simply put, Confucius said'}, {'start': '99.016', 'end': '102.868', 'text': '"Treat others the way you want to be treated."'}, {'start': '102.868', 'end': '106.649', 'text': 'Mao continued his education and was a very intelligent student'}, {'start': '106.917', 'end': '110.994', 'text': 'he scored very high marks and was, in a way, the top of his class'}, {'start': '111.189', 'end': '113.384', 'text': 'This isn’t Communist propaganda'}, {'start': '113.384', 'end': '117.534', 'text': 'even before he became China’s leader, he had these qualities'}, {'start': '117.778', 'end': '120.680', 'text': 'Anyway, by the time Mao was 14'}, {'start': '120.680', 'end': '122.314', 'text': 'he was passionate about learning'}, {'start': '122.501', 'end': '126.379', 'text': 'But one day, suddenly, his father said: "Come home, there’s something you need to do."'}, {'start': '126.721', 'end': '128.990', 'text': 'When he reached home, his father told him'}, {'start': '128.990', 'end': '131.795', 'text': '"Get ready, you are going to marry the neighbor’s daughter."'}, {'start': '131.893', 'end': '135.918', 'text': 'Even though the girl was four years older than Mao — she was 18'}, {'start': '136.016', 'end': '140.919', 'text': 'Mao didn’t want to marry her. But he couldn’t defy his father'}, {'start': '141.309', 'end': '144.041', 'text': 'so he was forced into marriage'}, {'start': '144.041', 'end': '145.935', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '145.935', 'end': '147.935', 'text': 'The marriage didn’t last long'}, {'start': '147.935', 'end': '152.228', 'text': 'because just two years later, his wife died from dysentery'}, {'start': '152.545', 'end': '157.601', 'text': 'After her death, his father said: "Now go back and continue your studies."'}, {'start': '157.821', 'end': '160.260', 'text': 'So Mao was sent to the city of Changsha'}, {'start': '160.455', 'end': '163.797', 'text': 'which had good schools, to pursue higher education'}, {'start': '164.163', 'end': '168.090', 'text': 'When he arrived in the city, he met educated, enlightened people'}, {'start': '168.236', 'end': '172.285', 'text': 'those who believed that China’s way of life needed to change'}, {'start': '172.480', 'end': '176.114', 'text': 'That is, it needed to transition from a rural lifestyle to an urban one'}, {'start': '176.334', 'end': '181.310', 'text': 'These progressive thinkers , though not fans of Western countries'}, {'start': '181.627', 'end': '186.908', 'text': 'believed that China should become fully industrialized like the West'}, {'start': '187.079', 'end': '191.714', 'text': 'By the year 1911 — when Mao turned 18'}, {'start': '191.901', 'end': '195.000', 'text': 'China was once again in political turmoil'}, {'start': '195.244', 'end': '200.098', 'text': 'A major revolution occurred, which brought an end to the powerful Qing dynasty'}, {'start': '200.342', 'end': '204.098', 'text': 'After that, the Qing name was erased from China'}, {'start': '204.244', 'end': '206.268', 'text': 'and the country became a republic'}, {'start': '206.268', 'end': '210.781', 'text': 'Its flag was the same one that is flown today only in Taiwan'}, {'start': '211.001', 'end': '215.782', 'text': 'Although China had become a republic, there was disorder throughout the country'}, {'start': '215.977', 'end': '218.806', 'text': 'The central government had little authority'}, {'start': '218.952', 'end': '222.684', 'text': 'Each region was ruled by some powerful warlord'}, {'start': '222.684', 'end': '224.660', 'text': 'In reality, it was a civil war'}, {'start': '224.660', 'end': '227.343', 'text': 'because these powerful people kept fighting among themselves'}, {'start': '227.468', 'end': '231.859', 'text': 'However, the city of Changsha — where Mao was studying — remained peaceful'}, {'start': '231.859', 'end': '233.884', 'text': 'and he continued his education'}, {'start': '233.884', 'end': '236.592', 'text': 'He chose philosophy as his subject and kept studying'}, {'start': '236.592', 'end': '238.958', 'text': 'At this point, Mao was not only gaining formal education'}, {'start': '238.958', 'end': '242.348', 'text': 'but reading about the entire world from morning to night'}, {'start': '242.470', 'end': '245.397', 'text': 'He studied global systems'}, {'start': '245.397', 'end': '247.226', 'text': 'What was the Islamic world like?'}, {'start': '247.372', 'end': '248.958', 'text': 'How did Catholics live?'}, {'start': '248.958', 'end': '251.617', 'text': 'What kind of lives did people in South America lead?'}, {'start': '251.617', 'end': '252.970', 'text': 'What was the history of Russia?'}, {'start': '252.970', 'end': '257.190', 'text': 'Mao studied Russian history and learned about many other parts of the world'}, {'start': '257.434', 'end': '261.190', 'text': 'And one day, among these books, his eyes fell on a peculiar book'}, {'start': '261.385', 'end': '266.044', 'text': 'This book contained an ideology that Mao had never encountered before'}, {'start': '266.166', 'end': '270.630', 'text': 'The book was Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto'}, {'start': '270.728', 'end': '274.069', 'text': 'You surely know that Karl Marx was the person'}, {'start': '274.069', 'end': '276.779', 'text': 'who popularized the theory of Communism around the world'}, {'start': '277.072', 'end': '279.779', 'text': 'At the same time Mao was engrossed in reading this book'}, {'start': '279.779', 'end': '283.389', 'text': 'the Bolsheviks — who held similar beliefs'}, {'start': '283.657', 'end': '285.535', 'text': 'were rising to power in Russia'}, {'start': '285.730', 'end': '289.609', 'text': 'As mentioned earlier, Mao became so immersed in this book'}, {'start': '289.609', 'end': '291.609', 'text': 'that he soon fell in love with it'}, {'start': '291.877', 'end': '294.534', 'text': 'to the point that he began to regard it as sacred'}, {'start': '294.534', 'end': '296.290', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '296.290', 'end': '300.000', 'text': 'In short, four years later, when Mao completed his university education'}, {'start': '300.146', 'end': '302.683', 'text': 'he ranked third in his class'}, {'start': '302.903', 'end': '304.049', 'text': 'a remarkable achievement'}, {'start': '304.049', 'end': '309.220', 'text': 'He earned a degree in philosophy and moved to Beijing, the capital of China'}, {'start': '309.464', 'end': '312.171', 'text': 'There, he got a job at the city’s central library'}, {'start': '312.366', 'end': '315.000', 'text': 'In reality, Mao didn’t need the job for the money'}, {'start': '315.000', 'end': '319.635', 'text': 'he took it only to gain access to all the books'}, {'start': '320.000', 'end': '321.401', 'text': 'It’s important to know that'}, {'start': '321.401', 'end': '325.000', 'text': 'at the time, the Beijing Library was the largest library in China'}, {'start': '325.293', 'end': '327.659', 'text': 'If we had a camera back'}, {'start': '327.659', 'end': '329.829', 'text': 'then and could see Mao in the library'}, {'start': '329.829', 'end': '331.000', 'text': 'the scene would be like this'}, {'start': '331.268', 'end': '333.610', 'text': 'He would be buried in books from morning until night'}, {'start': '333.610', 'end': '336.293', 'text': 'Sometimes, he would fall asleep with his head on the table,'}, {'start': '336.293', 'end': '338.854', 'text': 'then wake up and start reading again'}, {'start': '338.854', 'end': '343.952', 'text': 'Historical records state that Mao didn’t brush his teeth and barely ever bathed'}, {'start': '343.952', 'end': '348.148', 'text': 'Those around him said he always smelled bad'}, {'start': '348.270', 'end': '350.660', 'text': 'That is, he was so obsessed with reading that'}, {'start': '350.660', 'end': '353.221', 'text': 'he would say, “I don’t have time to bathe.”'}, {'start': '353.514', 'end': '358.334', 'text': 'You might not believe it, but sometimes months would pass without him bathing'}, {'start': '358.480', 'end': '362.090', 'text': 'Time passed, and we arrive at the year 1921'}, {'start': '362.383', 'end': '364.383', 'text': 'when Mao was 28 years old'}, {'start': '364.603', 'end': '367.920', 'text': 'That year, a man named Chen Duxiu'}, {'start': '368.213', 'end': '370.969', 'text': 'founded a new political party in China'}, {'start': '370.969', 'end': '375.432', 'text': 'The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'}, {'start': '375.432', 'end': '379.066', 'text': 'When Mao learned about the formation of this party, he was thrilled'}, {'start': '379.066', 'end': '381.457', 'text': 'He said, “Wow! Now this is a real party!”'}, {'start': '381.457', 'end': '384.134', 'text': 'and became one of its early members'}, {'start': '384.134', 'end': '386.012', 'text': 'But he wasn’t alone'}, {'start': '386.012', 'end': '390.622', 'text': 'Many other Chinese, especially rural peasants suffering from poverty and hunger'}, {'start': '390.768', 'end': '396.452', 'text': 'joined the party as soon as they heard it promoted equality and fairness'}, {'start': '396.452', 'end': '400.428', 'text': 'The Chinese government was watching all of this. It said: “What’s happening here?'}, {'start': '400.721', 'end': '403.301', 'text': 'Everyone seems to be turning Communist!”'}, {'start': '403.496', 'end': '405.716', 'text': 'Then came the wave of arrests'}, {'start': '405.838', 'end': '409.887', 'text': 'but these weren’t minor detentions. Blood began to spill on the streets'}, {'start': '409.887', 'end': '412.497', 'text': 'It may be hard for you to believe'}, {'start': '412.497', 'end': '413.789', 'text': 'but within just a few months'}, {'start': '413.789', 'end': '417.472', 'text': 'more than 300,000 Communist supporters were killed'}, {'start': '417.472', 'end': '421.175', 'text': 'This brutal massacre shook China to its core'}, {'start': '421.175', 'end': '423.468', 'text': 'and triggered a large-scale civil war'}, {'start': '423.468', 'end': '426.736', 'text': 'between the Communists and the government of the Republic of China'}, {'start': '426.736', 'end': '431.883', 'text': 'China’s civil wars are remembered in history as full-scale battles'}, {'start': '432.103', 'end': '437.347', 'text': 'where on each side up to 100,000 people would fight'}, {'start': '437.640', 'end': '441.348', 'text': 'And these were not trained soldiers — they were ordinary people'}, {'start': '441.348', 'end': '445.983', 'text': 'Now we reach the year 1931, when Mao turned 38'}, {'start': '446.227', 'end': '449.788', 'text': 'and still didn’t have any stable employment'}, {'start': '450.000', 'end': '454.610', 'text': 'Around this time, one of Asia’s most ruthless empires — Imperial Japan'}, {'start': '454.901', 'end': '458.731', 'text': 'took advantage of China’s weakness and invaded'}, {'start': '459.034', 'end': '462.132', 'text': 'Initially, the Japanese occupied only the coastal areas'}, {'start': '462.132', 'end': '465.815', 'text': 'but even in those regions they carried out massacres and looting'}, {'start': '465.961', 'end': '469.035', 'text': 'After the Japanese invasion, Mao found an opportunity'}, {'start': '469.035', 'end': '472.670', 'text': 'and he rose rapidly within the Chinese Communist Party'}, {'start': '472.890', 'end': '476.695', 'text': 'In 1934, a formal Communist army was formed'}, {'start': '476.988', 'end': '479.110', 'text': 'called the Red Army'}, {'start': '479.330', 'end': '482.403', 'text': 'and Mao was made its leader'}, {'start': '482.403', 'end': '484.513', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '484.513', 'end': '487.965', 'text': 'The name "Red Army" was borrowed from the Soviet Union — yes'}, {'start': '488.307', 'end': '491.283', 'text': 'the Chinese Communists used the same name'}, {'start': '491.405', 'end': '493.405', 'text': 'and even adopted a similar flag'}, {'start': '493.527', 'end': '499.430', 'text': 'Upon reaching this position, Mao realized how useful all those years of reading and study had been'}, {'start': '499.674', 'end': '502.064', 'text': 'He knew what was happening in the world'}, {'start': '502.064', 'end': '503.674', 'text': 'And it was his knowledge'}, {'start': '503.820', 'end': '507.162', 'text': 'his charismatic personality, and his oratory skills'}, {'start': '507.382', 'end': '510.382', 'text': 'that made him more powerful by the day'}, {'start': '510.602', 'end': '513.935', 'text': 'But on the other hand, the Japanese threat continued to grow'}, {'start': '514.203', 'end': '519.643', 'text': 'When we reach the year 1937, Japan launches a full-scale invasion of China'}, {'start': '520.000', 'end': '523.952', 'text': 'particularly targeting Manchuria and China’s major capital at the time, Nanjing'}, {'start': '524.342', 'end': '529.099', 'text': 'As the Japanese advanced, China — already a living hell'}, {'start': '529.441', 'end': '530.807', 'text': 'became even worse'}, {'start': '530.807', 'end': '535.564', 'text': 'It was as if the Japanese had installed another "elevator" in hell'}, {'start': '535.881', 'end': '538.076', 'text': 'one that took it even further down'}, {'start': '538.076', 'end': '540.534', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '540.534', 'end': '543.193', 'text': 'Because of the Japanese, China’s democratic government'}, {'start': '543.193', 'end': '545.876', 'text': 'which had been battling the Communists'}, {'start': '546.096', 'end': '548.950', 'text': 'was forced to seek help from Mao, the Communist leader'}, {'start': '548.950', 'end': '551.682', 'text': 'who had been their blood enemy'}, {'start': '551.926', 'end': '554.093', 'text': 'in order to defeat the Japanese'}, {'start': '554.337', 'end': '556.313', 'text': 'The Communists agreed and said, “Alright!”'}, {'start': '556.313', 'end': '558.874', 'text': 'The Chinese Communist Party and the democratic government'}, {'start': '559.094', 'end': '561.679', 'text': 'formed an alliance'}, {'start': '561.850', 'end': '563.509', 'text': 'but only against Japan'}, {'start': '563.509', 'end': '566.021', 'text': 'When the Japanese learned of this alliance'}, {'start': '566.201', 'end': '569.434', 'text': 'they responded: “Oh really? Now we’ll show you!”'}, {'start': '569.434', 'end': '571.873', 'text': 'They became even more brutal'}, {'start': '571.873', 'end': '577.435', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '577.435', 'end': '582.192', 'text': 'But things didn’t go well for the Japanese, and the biggest reason was this very alliance'}, {'start': '582.363', 'end': '584.826', 'text': 'That’s why, when World War II began'}, {'start': '585.000', 'end': '589.537', 'text': 'Japan’s main battlefield wasn’t the Pacific against the U.S. — it was China'}, {'start': '589.708', 'end': '594.301', 'text': 'They carried out mass killings of Chinese people, looted towns'}, {'start': '594.618', 'end': '599.326', 'text': 'and established horrific experimental programs like Unit 731'}, {'start': '599.570', 'end': '602.473', 'text': 'but they still couldn’t fully conquer China'}, {'start': '602.571', 'end': '606.352', 'text': 'Ultimately, the Chinese people resisted until 1945'}, {'start': '606.596', 'end': '609.596', 'text': 'and when two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan'}, {'start': '609.596', 'end': '614.621', 'text': 'they were defeated and completely withdrew from China and East Asia'}, {'start': '614.816', 'end': '617.035', 'text': 'Once the Japanese left China'}, {'start': '617.035', 'end': '621.426', 'text': 'the temporary alliance between the Communist Party and the Chinese government'}, {'start': '621.621', 'end': '625.255', 'text': 'collapsed, and the civil war resumed'}, {'start': '625.475', 'end': '628.719', 'text': 'But this civil war wasn’t like before'}, {'start': '628.865', 'end': '631.865', 'text': 'because now the Communists were far more powerful'}, {'start': '631.963', 'end': '635.000', 'text': 'and the democratic government could no longer stand up to them'}, {'start': '635.317', 'end': '638.067', 'text': 'So by the time we reach 1946'}, {'start': '638.409', 'end': '642.946', 'text': 'under Mao Zedong’s leadership, the Communists had fully won'}, {'start': '642.946', 'end': '645.531', 'text': 'and taken complete control of China'}, {'start': '645.677', 'end': '648.262', 'text': 'Now, Mao Zedong became the leader of China'}, {'start': '648.262', 'end': '650.823', 'text': 'His mind was filled with numerous ideologies'}, {'start': '650.823', 'end': '655.458', 'text': 'and he wanted to put them into practice and lift China out of misery'}, {'start': '655.775', 'end': '658.190', 'text': 'At that time, Mao was seen as a hero'}, {'start': '658.190', 'end': '659.800', 'text': 'The Chinese people believed'}, {'start': '659.800', 'end': '663.752', 'text': 'he had driven out the Japanese and established Communism'}, {'start': '663.752', 'end': '666.948', 'text': 'While Mao’s role was significant and cannot be ignored'}, {'start': '666.948', 'end': '671.680', 'text': 'treating him as the savior of the entire nation was an illusion'}, {'start': '671.948', 'end': '673.729', 'text': 'The Chinese people were full of hope'}, {'start': '673.729', 'end': '677.583', 'text': 'They believed Communism would bring them prosperity'}, {'start': '677.730', 'end': '682.901', 'text': 'but they had no idea that a dark future awaited them'}, {'start': '682.901', 'end': '686.535', 'text': 'In 1958, Mao launched a major ideological campaign'}, {'start': '686.535', 'end': '690.000', 'text': 'called:\n“The Great Leap Forward.”'}, {'start': '690.000', 'end': '692.609', 'text': 'Its goal was to modernize China'}, {'start': '692.609', 'end': '697.170', 'text': 'Mao believed that he could easily apply the ideas he had read in books to real life'}, {'start': '697.316', 'end': '702.067', 'text': 'and through that, advance China.\nBut the real world is different'}, {'start': '702.238', 'end': '706.080', 'text': 'Every theory, every written idea, every plan — only works'}, {'start': '706.226', 'end': '708.226', 'text': 'when all conditions are favorable'}, {'start': '708.592', 'end': '714.227', 'text': 'One of Mao’s major policies was that no individual could own land anymore'}, {'start': '714.227', 'end': '716.983', 'text': 'all land would now be state-owned'}, {'start': '716.983', 'end': '721.935', 'text': 'Another strange law was that production would first go to the elite'}, {'start': '722.134', 'end': '724.841', 'text': 'and only gradually reach the common people'}, {'start': '725.000', 'end': '729.147', 'text': 'This went completely against Communist ideology'}, {'start': '729.318', 'end': '732.343', 'text': 'which preaches equality'}, {'start': '732.343', 'end': '734.611', 'text': 'Music'}, {'start': '734.611', 'end': '737.855', 'text': 'Then in 1959, nature turned against China'}, {'start': '737.953', 'end': '740.514', 'text': 'A massive famine struck'}, {'start': '740.514', 'end': '746.076', 'text': 'so devastating that even the elite couldn’t be fully fed with the grain meant for millions'}, {'start': '746.222', 'end': '750.149', 'text': 'Thus, under Mao’s leadership, China faced one of the worst famines in history'}, {'start': '750.369', 'end': '754.589', 'text': 'Within just a few months, more than 10 million people died of hunger'}, {'start': '754.734', 'end': '758.901', 'text': 'The situation became so horrific that people were forced to eat corpses —'}, {'start': '759.243', 'end': '761.097', 'text': 'even human bodies'}, {'start': '761.097', 'end': '763.512', 'text': 'This famine continued for two years'}, {'start': '763.658', 'end': '766.243', 'text': 'and by the time we reach 1961'}, {'start': '766.243', 'end': '769.682', 'text': 'nearly 34 million people had died from starvation'}, {'start': '770.000', 'end': '774.537', 'text': 'Mao was still the leader of China, but he took no responsibility'}, {'start': '774.537', 'end': '777.513', 'text': 'He simply said, “It’s the fault of the bourgeoisie'}, {'start': '777.684', 'end': '779.388', 'text': 'I am a friend of the people!'}, {'start': '779.388', 'end': '782.022', 'text': 'During this time, “Mao’s Terror” began'}, {'start': '782.022', 'end': '785.000', 'text': 'Young Communists were brainwashed'}, {'start': '785.000', 'end': '787.659', 'text': 'so that they would kill anyone who opposed the revolution'}, {'start': '787.757', 'end': '789.489', 'text': 'So much mental conditioning was done'}, {'start': '789.489', 'end': '792.416', 'text': 'that one student killed his own teacher in class'}, {'start': '792.611', 'end': '795.392', 'text': 'saying, “He spoke against the revolution!'}, {'start': '795.392', 'end': '797.929', 'text': 'and no action was taken against him'}, {'start': '798.075', 'end': '800.099', 'text': 'These years of terror continued'}, {'start': '800.099', 'end': '803.148', 'text': 'but during this time, Mao did one significant thing'}, {'start': '803.319', 'end': '806.392', 'text': 'He opened the Chinese economy to the outside world'}, {'start': '806.392', 'end': '810.856', 'text': 'This step went against Communist principles, but many experts believe that'}, {'start': '811.027', 'end': '815.613', 'text': 'This was the very step that ultimately led China to its present, advanced state'}, {'start': '815.857', 'end': '819.201', 'text': 'In the year 1970, Mao made another bizarre decision'}, {'start': '819.372', 'end': '821.055', 'text': 'You may not believe it'}, {'start': '821.055', 'end': '827.203', 'text': 'a man who had received so much education, who had read so many books, gave such a foolish order'}, {'start': '827.471', 'end': '830.569', 'text': 'He declared: “Whoever wants to build a house'}, {'start': '830.569', 'end': '833.740', 'text': 'can go and take construction material from the Great Wall of China!'}, {'start': '833.740', 'end': '835.283', 'text': 'Yes, you heard that right!'}, {'start': '835.283', 'end': '838.995', 'text': 'Because of this, large parts of the Great Wall — thousands of years old — were destroyed'}, {'start': '838.995', 'end': '841.507', 'text': 'And the Great Wall was just the most famous example'}, {'start': '841.629', 'end': '845.361', 'text': 'Mao opened up many historical buildings to the public'}, {'start': '845.361', 'end': '848.142', 'text': 'allowing them to go and break things off for themselves'}, {'start': '848.264', 'end': '852.899', 'text': 'All of this showed that Mao had lost his mental balance'}, {'start': '852.997', 'end': '857.778', 'text': 'He was destroying his country’s history just to gain popularity among the people'}, {'start': '857.949', 'end': '862.559', 'text': 'The people, who needed these materials, didn’t even realize what they were doing'}, {'start': '862.827', 'end': '866.363', 'text': 'We now reach the mid-1970s'}, {'start': '866.363', 'end': '869.875', 'text': 'At this time, Mao Zedong was 80 years old'}, {'start': '870.000', 'end': '872.707', 'text': 'and despite his age, he did not bathe'}, {'start': '872.707', 'end': '874.707', 'text': 'he always smelled bad'}, {'start': '874.707', 'end': '879.561', 'text': 'Chinese journalists were too afraid to ask him anything'}, {'start': '879.732', 'end': '883.440', 'text': 'but one Western journalist dared to ask'}, {'start': '883.440', 'end': '885.098', 'text': '“Why don’t you bathe?”'}, {'start': '885.098', 'end': '888.269', 'text': 'Mao laughed and gave a sarcastic, evasive reply'}, {'start': '888.489', 'end': '891.294', 'text': 'one that is better left unsaid here'}, {'start': '891.465', 'end': '895.000', 'text': 'Another strange thing Mao did was in 1973'}, {'start': '895.000', 'end': '899.098', 'text': 'when he was meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger'}, {'start': '899.317', 'end': '901.878', 'text': 'In the middle of political discussions, Mao suddenly said'}, {'start': '902.146', 'end': '907.561', 'text': '“We are ready to send 10 million Chinese women to the U.S. to work as laborers'}, {'start': '907.561', 'end': '909.781', 'text': 'We have too many women'}, {'start': '909.879', 'end': '911.648', 'text': 'we don’t need them!'}, {'start': '911.892', 'end': '915.429', 'text': 'Kissinger at first thought it was a joke, so he laughed'}, {'start': '915.429', 'end': '917.429', 'text': 'But Mao was completely serious'}, {'start': '917.624', 'end': '920.575', 'text': 'It’s not for nothing that people say'}, {'start': '920.721', 'end': '924.134', 'text': '“Worms had infested Mao’s brain in his final years.”'}, {'start': '924.305', 'end': '928.196', 'text': "And then there's the infamous “Sparrow Campaign”, which you may have heard of"}, {'start': '928.196', 'end': '933.245', 'text': 'Mao believed that sparrows were destroying Chinese agriculture by eating crops'}, {'start': '933.367', 'end': '937.514', 'text': 'He issued a nationwide order:\n“Whoever sees a sparrow — kill it!”'}, {'start': '937.634', 'end': '941.000', 'text': 'The public complied, and sparrows were nearly wiped out'}, {'start': '941.000', 'end': '942.805', 'text': 'But what happened next?'}, {'start': '942.805', 'end': '944.171', 'text': 'A plague of locusts erupted'}, {'start': '944.366', 'end': '947.732', 'text': 'because there were no sparrows left to eat them'}, {'start': '947.952', 'end': '953.270', 'text': 'This led to agricultural devastation and millions dying of hunger'}, {'start': '953.538', 'end': '956.292', 'text': 'Other things are also rumored about Mao Zedong'}, {'start': '956.292', 'end': '960.146', 'text': "for example, it's said that he was a pedophile"}, {'start': '960.146', 'end': '965.777', 'text': 'Eventually, in 1976, Mao Zedong died at the age of 82'}, {'start': '965.777', 'end': '968.302', 'text': 'And for the first time in his life he was bathed'}, {'start': '968.302', 'end': '972.840', 'text': '— because his body had to be placed in a casket for public viewing'}, {'start': '972.840', 'end': '977.224', 'text': 'And thus ended the chapter of one of the most well-known leaders in Chinese history'}, {'start': '977.224', 'end': '981.727', 'text': 'Today’s China is vastly different from the China of Mao’s era'}, {'start': '981.727', 'end': '986.480', 'text': 'Although the Chinese Communist Party still shows him respect'}, {'start': '986.480', 'end': '990.396', 'text': 'his laws have been completely overturned'}, {'start': '990.396', 'end': '995.511', 'text': 'and that is precisely why China has now become the second-largest economy in the world'}, {'start': '995.511', 'end': '997.514', 'text': 'Mao’s real “achievement” is that'}, {'start': '997.514', 'end': '1002.637', 'text': 'he is considered the most lethal dictator in human history'}, {'start': '1002.637', 'end': '1006.818', 'text': 'responsible for the deaths of more than 70 million people'}, {'start': '1006.818', 'end': '1010.256', 'text': 'an atrocity for which there is no comparison. Truly'}, {'start': '1010.256', 'end': '1013.511', 'text': 'Second on the list of dictators is Joseph Stalin'}, {'start': '1013.511', 'end': '1018.756', 'text': 'who had 25 million people killed during his rule'}, {'start': '1018.756', 'end': '1022.406', 'text': 'Friends, if you liked this video, please like and share it'}, {'start': '1022.406', 'end': '1026.145', 'text': 'For more amazing and strange information like this'}, {'start': '1026.145', 'end': '1030.322', 'text': '., subscribe to our channel,\nand hit the bell icon'}, {'start': '1030.468', 'end': '1032.231', 'text': 'to turn on all notifications'}, {'start': '1032.231', 'end': '1037.149', 'text': 'so you don’t miss any of our upcoming videos'}, {'start': '1037.149', 'end': '1040.311', 'text': 'See you in the next one — until then'}, {'start': '1040.311', 'end': '1042.742', 'text': 'take care and goodbye'}]