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  • A Brief History of China

  • Dynasty, Revolution and Transformation: From the Middle Kingdom to the People's Republic
  • Written by: Jonathan Clements
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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A Brief History of China

Written by: Jonathan Clements
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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Publisher's Summary

A Brief History of China tells of the development of a rich and complex civilization where the use of paper, writing, money, and gunpowder were widespread in ancient times and where silk, ceramics, tea, metal implements, and other products were produced and exported around the globe. It examines the special conditions that allowed a single culture to unify an entire continent spanning 10 billion square kilometers under the rule of a single man - and the unbelievably rich artistic, literary and architectural heritage that Chinese culture has bequeathed to the world. Equally fascinating is the story of China's decline in the 19th and early 20th century - as Europeans and Americans took center stage - and its modern resurgence as an economic powerhouse in recent years.   

In his retelling of a Chinese history stretching back 5,000 years, author and China-expert Jonathan Clements focuses on the human stories which led to the powerful transformations in Chinese society - from the unification of China under its first emperor, Qinshi Huangdi, to the Mongol invasion under Genghis Khan and the consolidation of Communist rule under Mao Zedong. Clements even brings listeners through to the present day, outlining China's economic renaissance under Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping.

©2019 Jonathan Clements (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about A Brief History of China

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great summary ruined by narrator

Producing a brief history of China is a daunting challenge. The author met the challenge.

However, the narrator did not bother to try to learn an even passable pronunciation of Chinese names. The author should have caught this, as should the publisher. I am not a native speaker of mandarin, and I do not expect a native pronunciation. But the pronunciation here would be like someone pronouncing Marseille “Marselly”. Very off putting.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent introduction to to Chinese history

For the most part, I found “A brief history of China” to be a fascinating fascinating, engaging and entertaining presentation. Occasionally, it does get a bit plodding when there’s lots of dates, and sometimes I was confused as to where we were in the time line, but there are great insights and connections made between the past and the present.

After completing this, I was reading an article about the current economic situation in China and found that I understood much more of what it was presenting. What else can you ask for?

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoying so much, China's rich history

Really enjoyed the lush, complicated history of China. great narrator. Great stories well-told. Engaging, informative, and entertaining

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