Ancient China

Spend twenty-four hours with the ancient Chinese. Travel back to AD 17, during the fourth year of the reign of Wang Mang of the Han dynasty, a vibrant and innovative era full of conflicts and contradictions. But as different as the Han culture might have been to other great ancient civilizations, the inhabitants of ancient China faced the same problems as people have for time immemorial: earning enough money, coping with workplace dramas, and keeping your home in order.

From kung-fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, sages to silk, China has influenced cuisine, commerce, military strategy, aesthetics, and philosophy across the world for thousands of years. Chinese history is nothing if not messy. Heroes are also villains; prosperity mingles with violence; cultural vibrancy coexists with censorship and repression. Modern China is seen variously as an economic powerhouse, an icon of urbanization, a propaganda state, and an aggressive superpower seeking world domination.

Michael Wood has travelled the length and breadth of China, the world's oldest civilization and longest lasting state, to tell a thrilling story of intense drama, fabulous creativity, and deep humanity that stretches back thousands of years.

In this audiobook, you will be led on a journey through almost 2,000 years of Chinese history, showing you all the ups and downs of those ancient times, the sufferings and joys of the Chinese people, along with their greatest achievements and failures. Dynasties will change, people will be killed and born, art made and destroyed, but the Chinese civilization will prevail, rising from humble beginnings to an empire that at some points outshined any other in the world at that time.

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.

In The Long Game, Rush Doshi draws from a rich base of Chinese primary sources, including decades worth of party documents, leaked materials, memoirs by party leaders, and a careful analysis of China's conduct to provide a history of China's grand strategy since the end of the Cold War.

Zhou never seems to beat his brother, Cheng, at anything. But when Zhou finds a jade dragon, his luck changes. Soon, Zhou is beating Cheng at everything. Will Zhou and his jade dragon be able to keep up the winning streak, or will he lose his luck?

The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes investigates the trade routes between Rome and the powerful empires of inner Asia, including the Parthian regime which ruled ancient Persia (Iran). It explores Roman dealings with the Kushan Empire which seized power in Bactria (Afghanistan) and laid claim to the Indus Kingdoms. Further chapters examine the development of Palmyra as a leading caravan city on the edge of Roman Syria and consider trade ventures through the Tarim territories that led Roman merchants to Han China.

This audiobook narrated by Jim Lee provides a rich, discovery-filled account of how a forgotten empire transformed the ancient world.

One of the most profound studies of warfare ever written, The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China presents us with an Eastern tradition of strategic thought that emphasizes outwitting one's opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility, and a minimum of force - an approach very different from that stressed in the West, where the advantages of brute strength have overshadowed more subtle methods.

The Chinese created an amazing society that grew from along the banks of the Yellow River to oceans and lands beyond. But first, these people had to fight off jealous tribes from all sides and move their entire towns due to terrible floods. Yet they worked hard and built a culture that still survives - and thrives - today. Let’s take a close look at some of the most notorious leaders, their culture, and what drove them to persevere through the thousands of years it took to build the China we know today.

An army of Huns led by the ferocious Shan-Yu has invaded China. The Chinese Imperial Army must fight! Mulan, a young woman desperate to bring honor to her family, disguises herself as a male warrior in order to spare her father. Follow along as Mulan proves herself and defends China from the Huns!

As one of the most potent turning points in the country's modern history, the Opium War has since come to stand for everything that today's China seeks to put behind it. In this dramatic, epic story, award-winning historian Stephen Platt sheds new light on the early attempts by Western traders and missionaries to "open" China even as China's imperial rulers were struggling to manage their country's decline and Confucian scholars grappled with how to use foreign trade to China's advantage.

When a baby girl is abandoned at the gate of a monastery in ancient China, the monks have no choice but to adopt her into their exclusively male society of world-renown masters of the art of kung fu. She is raised within the monastery with a small group of boys, watching the monks beautiful training exercises during the days and listening to recounts of glorious battles of great kung fu masters at nighttime. Her favorite stories are those of the grand tournament battles between the monastery grand master, Bai Chen, and the legendary Black Dragon, an unknown masked competitor with unequaled ...

This eBook explores the fascinating world of cave dwellings, diving into their origins, historical significance, and enduring appeal in modern times. From the ancient cliffside homes of the Ancestral Puebloans to the underground cities of Cappadocia, cave dwellings have served as practical and resilient shelters for millennia. The eBook examines the unique characteristics of these structures, highlighting how natural insulation, sustainability, and harmony with the environment make them a compelling choice even today. It also discusses the regions in the United States where one might ...

It has become a common theme in today’s world to talk about the incredible technological and economic development of modern China. However, there are very strong historical roots to the exponential growth of modern China going back thousands and thousands of years.

The Duanwu Festival is just around the corner, and Mulan's favorite part is the Dragon Boat Race. Listen along as Mulan's village enters the race for the first time!

Venture beyond familiar horizons and journey back to a time of majesty and intrigue with "Beyond the Forbidden City," a captivating chronicle that's designed to transport you straight into the heart of Imperial China. Dive headfirst into this profound compilation of riveting tales, fascinating insights, and hidden truths that have shaped the very essence of Chinese civilization. Experience the grandeur of the ancient dynasties, the behind-the-scenes power of court eunuchs, and the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Terracotta Warriors. Savor a taste of Imperial China as you explore the ...

“Is this death?” I asked. “This is love,” replied the tiger. Magic apprentice Abalone has just saved the world from the wrath of underwater dragons. But her triumph is short-lived—her father, the great alchemist, demands she marry, expecting her to resign herself to a life of embroidered robes, quiet obedience, and managing household affairs. Abalone, however, has far wilder ambitions. Her heart burns to master fire magic, unravel forbidden rituals, and pursue the ancient mysteries that ignite her very soul. So, on the night of the legendary Dragon Boat Festival, she escapes into ...

San Kuo: Or Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong, set during the turbulent final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period (circa 184–280 AD). Widely regarded as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, it combines history, legend, and myth to depict the power struggles and heroic exploits of the era.