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From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History
- Narrated by: Kenneth J. Hammond
- Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins
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Publisher's Summary
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.
What listeners say about From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History
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- Mike
- 22-10-2016
Great overview on the politcal history of China
Wish there was more in the way of what China was like for the peasantry. Also there's very little on the role of the military under the Chinese Empire and how it was maintained in times of peace.
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- Pragmatic shopper
- 23-07-2022
Great series overall, but...
It was a very enjoyable series of lectures. Some facts are a little different to what could be found elsewhere kind in Wikipedia, blogs, books on periods covered, as well as on other University websites. However, these seem to be very occasional. An example is that Yongzheng was the 4th and not 13th son of Kangxi. If you are interested in the history of China, these lectures cover the entire recorded history, noting important events, key relationships and other factors in the process. You really end up with a good sense of China as a nation, a People, and the relative place it held (and holds) in a global setting.
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- Anonymous User
- 13-02-2019
Amazing
Highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn about China. A brilliant broad overview.
For me it will serve as a timeline to pin more in-depth glances to.
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- Vivien
- 19-02-2016
From Yao to Mao by Professor Hammond
This is a tremendous series and a tour de force from Professor Hammond. It is dense and for me often required a couple of replays -and I could listen to it all again. He explained the entire history of China with such eloquence and understanding. I am so pleased to have heard this - it has further increased my curiosity to know more about China. Many thanks!
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1 person found this helpful
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- raz
- 12-06-2019
A must course in Chinese History
Would start by saying that’s easy to jump to conclusions about China without the valuable background presented in this book. Also it’s worth noting that this great people and culture have been “hard done” in part by the Western colonial power and in part by their own internal divisions. This course will enlighten and elucidate all this.
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- Amnon
- 24-04-2018
Fantastic review across the entire Chinese history
If you could sum up From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History in three words, what would they be?
I've learnt lots!
What was one of the most memorable moments of From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History?
I knew very little about Chinese history prior and this series was a real eye opener.
What does Professor Kenneth J. Hammond Ph.D. Harvard University bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Tells the story in quite an interesting way. A bit too many "mmms" and "ahhhhs" between words and quite a few sighs along the way, but overall he does a great job at delivering this complex narrative of Chines history.
Any additional comments?
Could use a bit more colour when describing armed conflicts and could definitely benefit from more images and maps in the course PDF. Still - a very enjoyable and important course. Thank you!
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- Philip
- 10-01-2019
Not the greatest
Chinese history fascinates me but this was incredibly uninteresting and shallow as far as information goes. Did not bother finishing
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- Anonymous User
- 27-12-2019
terrible
terrible narration, glaring omissions. I struggled to stay awake. no mention at all of mao purges or victims of cultural revolution, or that mao was history's most successful mass murderer
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3 people found this helpful
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- Aleksandar
- 17-07-2022
Communist Apologist
It’s enraging to hear these historians sit there and literally gloss over the atrocities committed by the communist regimes, and the devastating effects of their policies (eg; the Great Leap Forward, and the blatant confiscation of peoples property for “Land Reform”).
It’s disgusting.
I enjoyed the ancient parts and how China emerged. There was much wisdom in the ways of old.
The biggest problems occurred with the attempt to transform a functional and lindy compatible monarchy, into some ridiculous democratic state, and just like Russia and the rest of Europe, the power vacuum left transformed it into a blood bath.
This could’ve been good.
But in the end was atrocious
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- Anonymous User
- 09-12-2021
Average
There are few important things missing. Such as names and quantities.
Over all the perspective should be from the Chinese point of view to gain a better/correct understand. However, that’s not the case.
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