In The Bronze Age and Diplomacy, archaeologist and historian Richard Miles describes a Bronze Age that is held together by peace treaties and agreements. In particular, the Hittites are pioneering in their diplomacy. Even so, the Hittites fought the Egyptians in the Battle of Kadesh, the largest chariot battle in history. But despite peace treaties and cooperation, upheavals and external pressures led to the collapse of the Bronze Age and the first dark age. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ancient Worlds, an epic series with archaeologist and historian Richard Miles as he explores the roots of civilization from Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire.
At the start of 2026, Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo said goodbye to two of its most famous residents: twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei.
The twins were born at the zoo in 2021 and quickly became stars. In their final weeks in Japan, so many families wanted to see them that visitors were picked by lottery.
The pandas were always meant to go back to China. China doesn’t sell or give away its giant pandas. It lends them to other countries, and the loans often depend on how well the two governments get along. This is known as “panda diplomacy.”
The twins left at a tense moment. Relations between China and Japan worsened after Japan’s new prime minister made comments about Taiwan, an island that governs itself but that China claims as part of its territory.
Now, for the first time since 1972, Japan has no giant pandas. That date matters. 1972 was the year Japan and China restored official relations, and China marked it by sending Japan its first pair of pandas. Japan would like more pandas, but officials say a new loan looks unlikely for now.
So the pandas are home in China, and Japan is waiting for a reply.
In The Bronze Age and Diplomacy, archaeologist and historian Richard Miles describes a Bronze Age that is held together by peace treaties and agreements. In particular, the Hittites are pioneering in their diplomacy. Even so, the Hittites fought the Egyptians in the Battle of Kadesh, the largest chariot battle in history. But despite peace treaties and cooperation, upheavals and external pressures led to the collapse of the Bronze Age and the first dark age. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ancient Worlds, an epic series with archaeologist and historian Richard Miles as he explores the roots of civilization from Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire.
At the start of 2026, Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo said goodbye to two of its most famous residents: twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei.
The twins were born at the zoo in 2021 and quickly became stars. In their final weeks in Japan, so many families wanted to see them that visitors were picked by lottery.
The pandas were always meant to go back to China. China doesn’t sell or give away its giant pandas. It lends them to other countries, and the loans often depend on how well the two governments get along. This is known as “panda diplomacy.”
The twins left at a tense moment. Relations between China and Japan worsened after Japan’s new prime minister made comments about Taiwan, an island that governs itself but that China claims as part of its territory.
Now, for the first time since 1972, Japan has no giant pandas. That date matters. 1972 was the year Japan and China restored official relations, and China marked it by sending Japan its first pair of pandas. Japan would like more pandas, but officials say a new loan looks unlikely for now.
So the pandas are home in China, and Japan is waiting for a reply.