From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History
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From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History
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Narrated by:
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Kenneth J. Hammond
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Written by:
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Kenneth J. Hammond
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The Great Courses
About this listen
For most of its 5,000-year existence, China has been the largest, most populous, wealthiest, and mightiest nation on Earth. And for us as Westerners, it is essential to understand where China has been in order to anticipate its future. These 36 eye-opening lectures deliver a comprehensive political and historical overview of one of the most fascinating and complex countries in world history.
You'll learn about the powerful dynasties that ruled China for centuries; the philosophical and religious foundations-particularly Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism-that have influenced every iteration of Chinese thought, and the larger-than-life personalities, from both inside and outside its borders, of those who have shaped China's history. As you listen to these lectures, you'll see how China's politics, economics, and art reflect the forces of its past.
From the "Mandate of Heaven," a theory of social contract in place by 1500 B.C.E., 3,000 years before Western philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, to the development of agriculture and writing independent of outside influence to the technologically - advanced Han Dynasty during the time of the Roman Empire, this course takes you on a journey across ground that has been largely unexplored in the history courses most of us in the West have taken.
In guiding you through the five millennia of China's history, Professor Hammond tells a fascinating story with an immense scope, a welcome reminder that China is no stranger to that stage and, indeed, has more often than not been the most extraordinary player on it.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2004 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2004 The Great CoursesWhat listeners say about From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2024-10-01
A Comprehensive Introduction to Chinese History
In this lecture series, Dr. Hammond skillfully navigates the vast timeline from ancient civilization to the dawn of the 21st century, offering readers a nuanced understanding of China’s political, cultural, and social evolution. Unlike many Western narratives, this lecture series presents a balanced perspective, focusing on the richness of Chinese heritage and its complex societal dynamics without resorting to polarized interpretations and thoughtfully avoids the common pitfalls of agenda-driven history. By examining the historical dynamics of community, class and governance, the audiobook provides a framework that allows for a more holistic and historical materialist view of China’s past. This equips newcomers to Chinese history with a balance shaped foundation of historical knowledge, enabling them to then critically engage with the scholarship related to their more specific historical eras of interest.
Dr. Hammond’s deep insight and commitment to an impartial analysis make this audiobook a true rara avis, encouraging readers to appreciate China's multifaceted identity and its towering role in history. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to engage with a thoughtful and expansive view of Chinese history and, although originally recorded in the early 2000s, given the current glacial state of the field of western sinology which has become akin to that of the 1950s, will likely still remain the most even-handed historical introduction to the whole of Chinese history in audiobook form for some time to come.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2019-01-07
Comprehensive review of China's history
There is A LOT of history that is covered in this lecture series, as the title would suggest. As someone who didn't know much about Chinese history, there was a lot I learned from the course. Unfortunately, the professor was not the most exciting person to listen to, in fact he is one of the weakest speakers I have heard from The Great Courses. Nonetheless it's still a great introduction to Chinese history and it's loaded with interesting information, even if it's delivered in an uninteresting way.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2021-09-17
Great Overview
So many great stories. A great way to start me learning about Chinese history. I was completely ignorant about Chinese history before listening to this series. Once you are finished this, I would recommend The Fall and Rise of China, as well as Understanding Imperial China.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-06-24
Probably one of the best in the history section
I listened to this on 1.2x speed for the most part and thoroughly enjoyed it.
10/10 will likely listen again in the future.
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