Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life, and Culture
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Narrated by:
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The Great Courses
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Written by:
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The Great Courses
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Andrew R. Wilson
About this listen
A knowledge of China's imperial history is vital for any understanding of its present, as modern China is linked in many ways to the extraordinary culture of its empire. These 24 lectures take you to the heart of life during China's imperial era, through the lives of individual subjects of all social ranks. Across the arc of the course, you'll witness what daily life was like for government bureaucrats, for scholars, for women of the court, for soldiers, merchants, craftspeople, courtesans, imperial cooks, and many others - all against the backdrop of the diversity, the genius, and the majesty of imperial China.
You'll hear about such memorable sights as the grand boulevards; splendorous palaces; imposing temples of Chang'an, the medieval world's greatest city; and the Qingming Shanghetu, a 17-foot painted scroll that gloriously portrays Song Dynasty life. And you'll meet unforgettable human beings, whose lives vividly reveal the world around them, such as Ban Zhao, Han-era woman of letters, poet, scholar, and teacher; Tao Yuanming, Daoist luminary and the empire's first great poet; Zhu Yuanzhang, powerful warlord and founder of the Ming Dynasty; and Hong Xiuquan, visionary reformer and architect of the religiously inspired Taiping Rebellion.
Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life, and Culture is your passport to this incredible, historic world.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great CoursesYou may also enjoy...
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What listeners say about Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life, and Culture
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dan
- 2019-07-17
It was pretty good, I enjoyed it. Will play again.
The views expressed in this review are those of the listener and do not necessarily reflect the position -or policy- of the US Navy, the US department of defense, or the US government. The content of this review reflect the reader's efforts in his private capacity.
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- Susan Dedora
- 2019-03-28
Perfect Listening Experience
All those hours and I never got tired of his voice. He was consistent and enjoyable, adding personal touches.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-10-03
Highly recommend
One of the best lecturers from Great Courses. Great work by Andrew Wilson. Thank you sharing in depth understanding of China.
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- Travers
- 2018-04-18
An excellent social history
This is the best selection from the Great Courses catalogue that I've yet encountered, and I've been listening for over a decade. The professor's cadence and voice are well suited to format, and his passion for the subject matter is evident. I can't provide an expert opinion on his Chinese pronunciation, but it sounds credible to my ear. If one is looking for a course on dynastic China, this is well worth your time.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Atalia Mejia Liverant
- 2018-09-19
Great Lectures
I loved Dr. Wilson's take on imperial Chinese culture. It was very informative and relaxing to listen to.
#Audible1
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- James
- 2019-04-20
Great audiobook
Excellent audiobook, I will definitely recommend it , so much information, thank you very much for the great audiobook
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- Amazon Customer
- 2018-02-28
Great Storyteller
Wonderfully composed stories illustrating life through China's history. Great compliment to some prior knowledge of chinese history.
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- Marin
- 2019-03-22
exceptional classes. I love the presentation
these series are great experiences. exceptional classes. I love the presentation. will continue downloading theses books
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