Wu Zetian’s influence across Central Asia helped boost trade, particularly in valuable commodities like silk and tea, which were highly in demand in distant parts of the world.

Here, series presenter Rana Mitter tells the story of Wu Zetian, the female Emperor. Only one woman has ever sat on China’s throne as Emperor in her own right. That woman was Wu Zetian (624-705 ...

In 690AD, she forced him to step down, declaring herself the founding emperor of a new Zhou dynasty, and taking the name Wu Zetian. But as brutal as her rise to power undoubtedly was ...

Seeking to consolidate her grip on the Chinese throne, Empress Wu Zetian embarked on an audacious project: expanding the imperial palace on a scale never before seen in China, or the world.