It's baffling how little known this is in the West. It influenced much of the modern world. * It's the worst war/unrest in human history up to the world wars

It's baffling how little known this is in the West. It influenced much of the modern world. * It's the worst war/unrest in human history up to the world wars. * It was the straw that broke Qing China's back. The empire never recovered. The loss of Manchu officials led to local Han authorities raising armies directly, permanently weakening imperial authority. * It really was led by a man who proclaimed himself the brother of Christ. Hong was probably schizophrenic. Unfortunately he was also charismatic and a gifted military commander. A fascinating person on his own. * The Heavenly Kingdom was a semi-functional theocratic state that lasted over a decade and ruled tens of millions at one point. They issued stamps, coins, and tried to establish foreign relations. * The rebels went full zealot. Millenialist. Communal property. Group castrations. * The rallying around ethnic Hakka identity by the rebels explains much of the modern insistence that the Han Chinese are one people with one language. * It was so disruptive Western forces got involved in the conflict on the Qing side. They stayed after. It accelerated the unequal treaties process. For comic relief: * General Zuo Zongtang, who finally put the rebellion down, is one of the most celebrated and remembered generals in world history; General Tso's Chicken is named after him.