China’s long and detailed records are helpful to gain insight about what works when it comes to governance and what doesn’t, and they make it clear that long periods of rule by one man (as long as that man knows his business) tend to be beneficial.

The long rule of Emperor Wu of Han (54 years on the throne) marked the apex of Chinese power before the start of the Christian era, and was evidence that long reigns typically are eras of learning in which scholars and propagandists remain safe in abstract debate: since the good health and youthful appearance of the ruler makes wild grabs for power under his successor too long of a shot to be risked until the end is near.

Now, there are caveats to this conclusion. Following such periods elites tend to do whatever is possible to avoid another one. Nobody likes to give one man too much power, even if that man proves to be pretty good at ruling (as Emperor Wu was), so political strife often follows as soon as the king is out of the way.