China’s Tang dynasty is often called the Golden Age of Ancient China, and at the helm of one of its most illustrious turning points was Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese dynastic history to rule not as a dowager or consort, but as empress in her own right. During her 690–705 reign, Wu expanded the empire, reopened the Silk Road and funnelled government funding into endeavours to care for the poor and sick. Prior to her death in 705, Empress Wu chose to leave her grave’s epitaph blank, wanting her reign to be judged only by history. This may not have been such a good idea. History has not
...more
