The Foundations of Eastern Civilization

by Craig G. Benjamin

Listening Length 23 hours and 22 minutes

Over the course of 48 ambitious lectures The Foundations of Eastern Civilization takes you on a grand journey to explore the big accomplishments of Eastern civilization, from the material economy of day-to-day life to the political and religious philosophies that would bind these cultures together for thousands of years. Professor Craig G. Benjamin of Grand Valley State University introduces you to the many people, achievements, and ideas that came out of Eastern civilization and played a role in creating the modern world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China, Audiobook, Asia, Politics, Ancient History

24 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Craig G. Benjamin is Professor of History at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He is the author of several books and numerous chapters and articles on ancient history.

Reviews

[Alex Timberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible. It is offered by The Great Courses and was one of the most interesting courses I’ve taken. The author is passionate about the topic. Also his accent, maybe Australian, is pleasant to listen to and his knowledge is clearly evident.

It was funny to hear him pronounce different kingdoms and periods from Korea, because it was completely wrong, but that didn’t stop him from delivering on his lectures.

As for the content, yes China dominates Asian history but he did excellent coverage on other countries such as Korea where I was born and on Japan. Not much on India considering their long history and very scant reviews of some others but he did a lot within 48 30 minute lectures.

To my benefit, I learned more Korean history from his lectures than from what I’ve been able to piece together by reading several books. His passion on the subject helps you just remember and learn. The way he teaches just makes it all click. Finally, I got the different kingdoms and periods untangled and understand in detail the influences that Korea was under.

He gives an abundance of fascinating information and wraps by detailing Japan’s startling rise, Korea’s shameful colonization, and China’s woeful fall and revival. If you like Asian history, this is a must read or shall I say a must listen. Totally recommended.

[Beauregard Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s only because of Western hubris that we Americans don’t know more about Eastern history and its foundations. Tis a pity for us in the Western world to think of ourselves as superior from nothing more than our misplaced pride based on our accident of birth. We ignore the rest of the world at our own peril. This course should help rectify that situation and goes a long way with putting the average American (or Westerner) back in their proper contextual frame of reference. Ignorance is a best friend to white supremacist, Western Chauvinist or wanna be Fascist Trump supporter. For those poisonous Cretans, I would recommend a course like this one. (see ‘World at War: The 2500 year struggle between East and West’ by Pagden for a typical mindless example of Western Chauvinism at play, even that books title alone is enough to invoke a cringe worthy response in the non-fascist, non Trump supporter or a real student of World History).

The Professor started off in his personnel journey as a Roman historian and realized how he was only getting a part of the story when the East was not getting adequately covered.

Who we are today comes about through the foundations that were put in place when we were younger both as individuals and as a civilization. As for who the Chinese and the Eastern world are today (except for India, this lecture was strangely terse when it came to India), one needs to understand how they got there and this lecture does a very good job at that and listens better than any one semester college survey course would be capable of doing on this complex topic.

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the way Prof Benjamin defines his subject to almost everything in the series, the information is contextualized. And the contextualization is largely based on their present relevancy. Let me elaborate.

A lot of courses go through events chronologically. To a degree, this course may also appear similar. But Professor Benjamin is not interested in an encyclopedic recital of history - kings and their men who came and went along with the jotting down of key wars, court intrigues, cultural trends etc.

The book has a theme and so have all the major sections in their own unique way. These themes are clearly defined right at the beginning and then repeated at the end with all the details repeatedly punctuated for their connections with the theme under discussion at that point. One rarely begins to wonder why one is learning all the stuff.

And the series will not disappoint those only seeking information. In fact, the lecture series appears to move too fast at every stage given how much it has taken upon itself. The 19th and the 20th century events appear particularly ill-treated: the Taiping and the Boxer revolutions, the Meiji restorations, Pearl Harbor, Japan's Asian occupations, Mao and Ho Chin Min eras, the Korean wars etc should have got at least some what more space or alternatively, the foundation could have stopped with some point in the 19th century. Despite the promises at various points, the author skips most of SE Asia ex Vietnam, avoids Tibet/Taiwan and the Stans while nearly ignores India. In other words, the Professor appears constrained by the time alloted by the Course's designer.

Yet, a must listen.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished! I finished the two-checkouts-worth-of-listening behemoth!
It was pretty dang great and compares most favorably to my other asia/china great course I listened to (yao to mao) by covering gender and society and books and art as well as emperors and politics.

Some of the things the prof said were not in agreement with what I've learned from my other courses though which of course sends me into a spiral of DOUBT - what is the true truth??? If this is not right, what other things are not right?

Of course now that I am finished I can't even remember what details were in disagreement to seek additional sources. So.

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In forty-eight Australian-accented lectures, Professor Craig G. Benjamin covers thousands of years of history involving China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. On the whole, this "big history" approach is very useful, especially in comparing one civilization to another and weighing their cross-cultural impacts and most recent developments. On the whole, this was a satisfying twenty-four hours, and it did much to put other readings of mine into greater context.

[Christine Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much, I know I want to listen to this again!

[Magen - Inquiring Professional Dog Trainer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This course simply covered way too much time. It started with pre-history and ended with discussions of events in 2009 and 2012. I expected a course on the foundations of eastern civilization to cover history, not current events. Going into this course, I knew it was long (24 hours) and thus expected an in-depth coverage of all aspects of eastern civilization, including an in-depth discussion of influential philosophical beliefs and religions. While these subjects were covered, they were not done with enough depth to really see how they influenced the rest of eastern civilization, especially Confucianism. While this philosophical system came up in nearly every lecture, it was only discussed in two lectures, in which, much time was spent discussing the life og Confucius. Contrast that to how the other major philosphical systems were discussed in one lecture each and it becomes clear 2 lectures is simply not enough. In addition, the origins of Buddhism were discussed, providing a historical account of how it came to eastern civilization, but the belief system was not discussed in any depth. Neither were other religions like Shinto or even the practice of ancestor worship. Overall, this course was disappointing and too heavily focused on covering in detail each government and most leaders over providing the rich cultural foundation of the influences on eastern civilization.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this lecture series mainly for the 8 or so courses on the Xiang-Nu, Mongols and the Yuan dynasty but I was drawn in to the lecturers casual competence and conversational style. He shows a great love of the subject matter and it came through in the course. I learned a few things I didn't know and it refreshed a lot of things I did but only casually. Worth a listen to as are most Great Courses CDs/Audio downloads are.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great content that provides a lot of historical context needed in order to understand the current state of eastern societies. As long as you aren’t instantly triggered by an accent (so many of the low ratings just say the professor has an accent. How dare he!!) you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.

[J.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished this behemoth. It's a very detailed and thorough accounting of Eastern civilization's development.

[Feng Ouyang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig G. Benjamin's "The Foundations of Eastern Civilization" offers a comprehensive exploration of the historical tapestry of East Asia and Southeast Asia, particularly spotlighting China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. With 48 lectures spanning from around 3000 BC to the present day, this book vividly chronicles the evolution and transformation of these regions.

The narrative unfolds in three stages: from ancient times to roughly 900 AD, from 900 AD to the outset of the 20th century, and from there onwards. Each stage details the growth and progression of the four aforementioned nations, with China naturally claiming a greater share of the spotlight due to its vast historical and geopolitical influence.

Despite its title, this book does not serve as a comprehensive guide to Eastern philosophies and thoughts. While it does sketch an outline of the fundamental Eastern ideologies that arose during China's "warrior nations" period (several hundred years B.C.) and outlines the core tenets of Buddhism, these discussions are brief and lack depth. The book primarily emphasizes historical figures and events, rather than diving into the exploration of ideas.

This history book distinguishes itself with three standout features. It pays attention to the daily lives of people, and it highlights the roles women play within society. Moreover, it champions the idea that cultural exchange and integration serve as pivotal drivers of societal progression.

The author broadens the conventional understanding of "civilization" by taking into account everyday citizens' lives. He transports readers to diverse capitals and provides insights into the interplay between citizens and their governments across various epochs and regions. Of particular note is his chronicling of women's evolving roles in these societies. He illuminates how women, despite entrenched patriarchal norms, became catalysts for societal change, as exemplified by the female rulers highlighted in each civilization.

In addition, the narrative underscores the significance of cultural exchange, particularly the interchange between China and the West, as well as China and its Eastern and Southeast Asian neighbors.

The cultural interplay between China and the West is divided into three main periods. During the Han dynasty, China's westward expansion was driven by commerce and a desire to form alliances against northern nomads, leading to the establishment of the Silk Road. This trade route was further expanded during the Tang dynasty when China's wealth and technological advancements lured merchants, students, and career seekers from as far as the Roman Empire. This period primarily saw Buddhism, originating in India but suppressed there, taking root in China and extending its reach into China's sphere of influence.

The final wave of East-West integration came during the Yuan dynasty. After conquering China, the Mongols extended their rule to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. They integrated Muslims from the West into the Chinese government, causing another phase of cultural fusion. However, this didn't have lasting effects as many Chinese scholars dismissed the Yuan rulers as invaders.

Simultaneously, China's own cultural tenets, encapsulating Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, greatly influenced Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asian nations. However, these countries sought to retain their political and cultural autonomy by developing their own languages and governance models. Unique in this regard was Vietnam, which maintained closer ties with China than its Southeast Asian counterparts, which were more significantly influenced by India and Islamic nations throughout history.

While "The Foundations of Eastern Civilization" is an engaging and informative condensed history of East Asia, some criticisms are warranted.

One of the key themes of the book lacks robust support. The book posits that Ancient China thrived largely due to its economic and cultural exchanges with the West (Middle East and Europe). However, during the mid-Ming dynasty, China adopted a more isolationist stance, severing these fruitful exchanges. Subsequently, as Europe embarked on the path of the Industrial Revolution, China found itself lagging, its world-leading position eroded.

While it's evident that China did retract into isolationism and lose its global prominence simultaneously, drawing a direct correlation between these two events lacks substantiation. The Industrial Revolution in Europe, a seminal moment in human history, sprang from the wellsprings of Greek tradition and the Scientific Revolution. Even if China had preserved its openness, it's unlikely that the Industrial Revolution would have unfolded there, as the event is firmly rooted in European historical developments.

The most realistic scenario, had China sustained its international engagement, would have been for China to trail closely behind Europe, assuming European countries didn't safeguard their technological advancements zealously. Given the revolutionary nature of the Industrial Revolution, it would have been implausible for China to maintain its world-leading status regardless of its policies. Thus, the book could have done a better job of buttressing its claims with concrete evidence rather than solely depending on temporal coincidences.

The book's depiction of the three Chinese female rulers – Queen Lu of Han, Emperor Wu of Tang, and Queen Chixi of Qing – as positive figures challenges conventional Chinese literature, which tends to portray them as ruthless despots. This can be partially attributed to the doubts surrounding their legitimacy and the inherent biases of the patriarchal tradition. Nevertheless, their harsh and oppressive ruling styles played a role, which were probably responses to the exceptional challenges they encountered due to their gender. While this contrasting view serves the book's theme of showcasing women as important social forces, a more nuanced analysis of these controversial figures could have provided a richer context.

The account of China's 20th-century history leans heavily on official Chinese Communist Party narratives, leading to several factual inaccuracies. Firstly, during World War II, the Guo Ming Dang army did not merely retreat to central China and leave the fight to the Communist army, as the book stated. In fact, the Guo Ming Dang army carried out more than ten large-scale campaigns that effectively hampered the Japanese advance and depleted Japanese resources, contradicting the narrative propagated by the Communist Party. At least 39 Guo Ming Dang generals lost their lives during the war, dwarfing the sacrifices and contributions from the Communist army.

Secondly, the book omits the famine that occurred between 1959 and 1962 due to the Communist Party's policy errors. Up to 30 million people perished from starving during the famine. This event significantly impacted Mao's grip on power, triggering the Cultural Revolution.

Thirdly, the book mentioned that the Gang of Four attempted a military coup after Mao's death before their arrest. This accusation, despite being unsubstantiated by public documents and subsequent trials, is propagated by the Communist Party. In reality, none of the Gang of Four members had considerable military influence to stage a coup.

Moreover, the book incorrectly asserts that the Qing army and peasant rebellion cooperated to defeat the Ming. Both historical records and widely accessible resources like Wikipedia refute this claim, indicating that the Qing and the rebellion led by Li Zhi Chen were in conflict as soon as the former entered Chinese territory.

Despite these criticisms, "The Foundations of Eastern Civilization" serves as a concise and compelling overview of East Asia's history. It is a commendable starting point for anyone interested in the subject. However, for a more accurate and nuanced understanding, readers should cross-reference other historical sources and treat some of the book's themes with a degree of skepticism.

[Flash Sheridan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviews have noted, this is _not_ a unified history of Eastern Civilization (which I hope the Great Courses will produce some day), it’s a history of China, with mini-series on Korea and Japan interspersed. For instance, the Chinese conquest of Korea is barely mentioned in the main series on China, so it comes as something of a shock in the Korea series of lectures. All three series are, as others have noted, good sound Great Courses lectures, so I do recommend listening to them, at least until the Great Courses releases a unified history.
I do, of course, have some minor complaints. As usual, the course guide lacks a map of the localities mentioned. Professor Benjamin seems to have troubles when he strays further from China, e.g. his claim that China (rather than Lydia) invented coinage (14 9:37), and his remarks on Gilgamesh. He should have explained the difficulties before assuming understanding of the Communist’s Pinyin transcription system and its pronunciation, rather than putting it off until forced to by the Tao/Dao non-distinction. (My rather biased suggestion would be to mention that the Yale system almost makes sense to readers of English, and Pinyin is most easily understood as an inconveniently radical shortening of it.)
Professor Benjamin is usually quite good at keeping current obligatory academic opinions out of the lectures, though there are some slips which are already looking unfortunate: His undue sympathy for the Communist dynasty in North Korea at the end of lecture 42; the unfortunate transition from China supposedly freeing itself from imperial domination in lecture 45, immediately followed by his acknowledgment of domination by the Soviet empire; his claim that Xi seemed certain to continue government by the party (rather than a personality cult) at 47 22:59; his refusal to define “civilization” meaningfully due to the taboo that all judgement is evil, at 48 9:49 (If he actually meant what he said, it was presumably reprehensible for me to listen to his 48-lecture course on Eastern Civilization before the inexcusably shorter series on the Celtic World [not “Civilization”].); his use of “authoritarian” when, if he actually intended the distinction, he surely meant “totalitarian” (48 20). And finally, some linguistic nits: His uses of “frankly” and “succinctly” are usually superfluous and often incorrect; his four uses of ‘literally” in the Guide text are correct though superfluous, but he uses it incorrectly in lecture 38 at about 19 minutes.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting, well organized and presented and would I have given five stars if it weren't for a few things: It could better be titled "The Foundations of Chinese and Some Other Eastern Civilizations" as it is heavily weighted towards Chinese history- which isn't bad, per se, but I was expecting something more balanced. The professor has an unusual habit of 'barking' out every proper name, regardless of the language and it's really distracting. The final chapter was mostly recap- it sounded like he was checking off the syllabus to make sure he'd hit everything. With those caveats, I would still recommend this to anyone with an interest in the subject and I'm interested in picking up other things by him.

[Carlos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the ambitious title, this book was a straight forward history of east Asia, with perhaps an occasional additional emphasis on the role played by China as cultural hegemon. Benjamin reaches all the way back to pre-history and seeks to give a simplified chronicle of the region up to the 21st century. He focuses less on individual rulers than in the ebb and flow of dynasties with particular attention to the dominant ideas of the time and the effect of intermittent connections to the rest of the Eurasian continent. While not particularly outstanding or engaging, Benjamin at least manages to not get bogged down in unnecessary detail and moves reasonable swiftly through the more than 4,000 years of history he covers.

[John Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent primer for anyone interested in this region for any period of its history. As someone has mentioned already the lecturer's pronunciations of Chinese and other "Eastern" words are a little jarring as he tends to rush the delivery in an exaggerated way, however the content is very interesting and broad beyond belief in scope, well worth a listen.

[Zeyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping review of thousands of year of eastern civilization, I suggest this course before 'Great minds of the eastern intellectual tradition'

[William Adam Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I seem to be in the minority of reviews here, but this is not one of the Great Courses I enjoyed very much. There were some highs and lows.

The Peaks- I wanted to listen to these lectures to expand my knowledge of China, Japan, and Korea. I did feel like I learned a bit about these three countries so as to be more knowledgeable about them in general. There are five lectures on the Silk Roads in the middle of this course. These five lectures were fascinating and really introduced me to many new pieces of information I had not come across. Professor Benjamin knows his topic well, and brings out some interesting material during these 48 lectures. His area of focus is big history, and I could see this, as he seems well versed to make connections between the ancient past and recent history.

The Valleys- This is a really long course. By about halfway through, I honestly was looking forward to being done. I endured on, and I'm glad I did, but it was really long. I think the course could have been 24 lectures and that would have been better. If we're looking at the Foundations of Eastern Civilizations, going up to the 1200's seems about right, it would give the bases for what is more modern civilization.
Professor Benjamin has a distracting habit of saying names, either personal or geographic, really fast and loud, and often in ways that I had not heard them pronounced before.
Seemed unorganized at times. In Lecture 31 on Vietnam, he stopped talking about Vietnam halfway through the lecture, and starting previewing something that he was going to get to later in the course about China. He did this again in Lecture 36 on the Mongols-again previewing something that he would talk about later that was unrelated to what he was currently discussing.
Although Professor Benjamin is very qualified in his subject matter and thorough, I did not find his lecture style engaging. I much preferred Professor Grant Hardy's course on "Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition" which covers much of the same material, but has a lecture style that really draws you in.
A lot of reviews champion this course, but it was mostly a miss for me. I really did like those five lectures on the Silk Roads though!!

[Aaron Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

1. Journey to the East

2. Yin and Yang—The Geography of China

3. Early China and the Mysterious Xia

4. The Coming of the Shang

16th—11th centuries B.C.

5. The Shang and Writing for the Gods

Yin and Yang: darkness and light.

6. The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven

Zhou (jo) Dynasty—c.1050 B.C. to 256 B.C.—split into western and eastern Zhou. Longest dynasty in China’s history.

Warring States Period—475 to 221 B.C.—Sun Tzu’s The Art of War—Qin victory in 221.

7. Great Ideas of the Zhou—Confucianism

8. Great Ideas of the Zhou—Later Confucianism

Optimistic belief in human nature.

9. Great Ideas of the Zhou—Daoism

Pessimistic belief in human nature. Escape from reality.

10. Great Ideas of the Zhou—Legalism

Where Confucianism and Daoism failed, legalism succeeded in developing an ordered state through strict law. Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism all promote a collectivist mindset in which the rights of the individual are to be subordinated to the rights of the state.

11. The Qin and the First Emperor of China

Beginning of the imperial age 221 B.C.—large centralized government with increasing power. Terracotta Warriors.

12. Contact with the West—The Early Han

13. Triumph and Tragedy—The Later Han

14. Silk Roads—In the Footsteps of Nomads

15. Silk Roads—The Envoy Zhang Qian

16. Silk Roads—Perils of Camels and Caravans

17. Silk Roads—Rome and Roads from the West

18. Silk Roads—The Lost Kushan Empire

19. Origins of Buddhism

20. The Age of Disunity

21. The Great Taizong and the Rise of the Tang

22. Changan and the Glittering Tang

23. Korea—Mysterious Beginnings

24. Korea—The Land of Morning Calm

25. Korea—The Unified Silla

26. Korea—The Koryo

27. Japan—Geography and Early Cultures

28. Japan—Treasures of the Tomb Period

29. Japan—Nara and the Great Eastern Temple

30. Japan—The World of the Heian

31. Southeast Asia—Vietnam

32. Southeast Asia—Indian and Islamic Influences

33. The Industrial Revolution of the Song

Song Dynasty: 960-1279. Conquered by Kublai Khan.

34. Intellectual and Cultural Life of the Song

35. The Mongols Conquer the World

36. Shaking the Foundation—Mongols in the East

37. The Rise of the Ming

Ming Dynasty: 1368-1644

38. Great Treasure Fleets of the Ming

39. The Qing—Nomads Return from the North

40. The Qing—The Last Emperor of China

41. Korea Choson—Rise of the Yangban

42. Korea Choson—The Last Dynasty

43. Medieval Japan—Samurai and Shoguns

44. Tokugawa and Meiji Japan

45. The People’s Republic of China

46. Isolation and Cold War Conflicts

47. The Rise of the East Asian Tigers

48. The Enduring Ideas of Eastern Civilization

[Xavier Patiño · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I even begin??

This was an extensive course that covers the long and winding history of the ancient East. China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam are each dissected and analyzed. We learn about the beginnings of each countries culture, geography, government, and religion. It all begins with China, and its influence throughout the centuries helped hone and development the other nations. It was like a giant octopus and its long tentacles of sway and power snaked their way through East Asia. However, each country valiantly fought off the cultural tidal wave of Chinese influence and went on to progress and prosper in their own ways.

Professor Craig G. Benjamin also covers the history of the Silk Road, which I found fascinating. He is very energetic and passionate about the subject. As other reviewers here have mentioned, he does tend to exaggerate the pronunciations of the different cities and names. I found this a bit amusing honestly and didn't take away from the course.

Overall I learned a good amount from Professor Benjamin. His class sparked an interest in me for the philosophies of Confucianism and Buddhism. It also sparked in me an appreciation for ancient history and of the concept of time itself. The fact that these countries in Asia are so old and immemorial is incredible. These ancient societies were creating art by sculpting, painting and drawing, writing prose and poetry, experimenting in metallurgy, going to war, creating and developing different forms of government and inventing the social hierarchy.

All of this taking place thousands of years ago. Incredible stuff.

Highly recommend this course to those interested in the beginnings of this fascinating part of the world.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a broad, sweeping, Big History course. The lectures span from Neolithic migrations into Asia up to present day. While mostly focusing on China, Benjamin has several what he calls mini-courses on other regions, including Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. He examines how these regions developed on their own but also under the influence of China. The course explores what is meant by 'foundations,' by 'eastern,' and by 'civilization': how should we and how did each of the many cultures and peoples understand and express these? Benjamin looks at the impacts of geology and climate on the cultures and peoples. He looks how the economic and political systems developed and evolved: both from internal developments and external influences.

Each lecture is interesting and well-presented. Benjamin is an excellent lecturer and story-teller. There were many things I learned, but the most surprising for me was how ancient and deep rooted some of the divisions in the region are. For example, like many I presume, I assumed the division between North and South Korea was a Cold War, modern phenomenon, but come to learn that Korea has often historically been divided in a north/south arrangement.

I am doubtful about my recall of much of the detail: the names, places, and dates and so on. But the course provides a grand schema to think about Eastern civilizations. In this way it is a good structure to have before pursuing more close study of a particular time, place, or people.

[Umar Farooq · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book to get an overview of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam over past 3000 years. The lectures are thought through and give a deep understanding of why Far East is the way it is right now. How China, one of the most fascinating places on Earth, rose and fell and rose again over millennia. How Korea and Japan developed into truly unique and captivating civilizations while living under the shadow of the giant that China is throughout history. How Vietnamese are one of the bravest people to always place freedom before life. And all about silk roads and Kingdom of Bactria and Mongols and Opium wars and world wars and civil war and bloodshed and extortion on the scale of.... well never mind :) Lets keep it light.
Overall I highly recommend it for someone like me trying to get their first peek into the jade carved world of East Asia.

[Gregory Luckert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a summary of East Asian history focused on China. The actual "foundations" are discussed only briefly. The Chinese version of East Asian history is presented, with all the old cliches about homogeneity and 4000 years of continuity. That said, this is a good history for someone new to the topic. The narrator is engaging and entertaining. The comprehensive material is divided up into digestible chunks, good for commuting. The sections on Korea were best for me because that corner of the world is mostly ignored in the U.S. educational system. This is a "Great Courses" presentation, which means there is a bit of silliness like canned clapping in between the chapters.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a long time to get through though it was decent. Pretty much until we get to early modern history it’s a wash for me in the same way learning about post-classical Europe is hard to trace except for a few big movements and figures and the centuries pass quickly. Once we get to the Ming Dynasty and Tokugawa Shogunate and the pieces start to make permanent dents in my brain. Before that I start humming Living on a Thin Line.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general this course was very informative, especially given my base knowledge was very limited. My only complaint was I would like to have heard more about the development of the philosophical ideas of the region beyond their origins and the way they were implemented. Presumably these philosophical ideas were developed further in the past millenia or so.

[Liam Collins]

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful introduction to East Asian history. Craig G. Benjamin is an excellent lecturer and presents a broad, expansive view that is more than just a list of kings and emperors.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other Great Courses, the lectures in this one use some language that feels dated and cringey. However, there's quite a good bit of history and insight in this one. I appreciated the approach of looking at Eastern Civilization through the lens of Chinese influence.

[Geffen Tzaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series - the professor is clearly knowledgable about the subject (and souns like he could go on and on if not for the time limit), the themes are coherent and the subject matter is made to feel immediate and modern.

[Susan S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had gotten this for a class. Highly recommended by the professor. I’m so glad I did! The author and narrator has a lovely Australian accent and he really made the content understandable and entertaining. It was a great, interesting listen. I’m so glad I was able to hear it

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my interest throughout--well presented. For the most part, well organized--something difficult to do when jumping between the entire history of a number of nations over thousands of years.

[Kevin McClear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the strongest Great Course book, but that is probably because it is just too ambitious a topic to take in in one go. I'm glad I went through it, but if you are looking to Asian history, you may wish to try and find many courses with less ambitious goals.

This IS the first of the "Foundations" series I have tried, and it is possible that the format is simply not for me.