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Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Uncover the fascinating origins of East Asian civilization in this comprehensive course that explores the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Watch First Lecture

Journey to the East
1 Journey to the East - 30 min
Embark on your exciting voyage through the geography, history, people, and culture of Eastern civilization with a reflection on three key words of the course. What do we mean by “Eastern”? By “civilization”? By “foundations”? This lecture readies you for the fascinating journey to come.

48 Lectures

1
Image of Journey to the East
Journey to the East
0 of 30 min
2
Image of Yin and Yang—The Geography of China
Yin and Yang—The Geography of China
0 of 28 min
3
Image of Early China and the Mysterious Xia
Early China and the Mysterious Xia
0 of 29 min
4
Image of The Coming of the Shang
The Coming of the Shang
0 of 28 min
5
Image of The Shang and Writing for the Gods
The Shang and Writing for the Gods
0 of 29 min
6
Image of The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven
The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven
0 of 29 min
7
Image of Great Ideas of the Zhou—Confucianism
Great Ideas of the Zhou—Confucianism
0 of 28 min
8
Image of Great Ideas of the Zhou—Later Confucianism
Great Ideas of the Zhou—Later Confucianism
0 of 28 min
9
Image of Great Ideas of the Zhou—Daoism
Great Ideas of the Zhou—Daoism
0 of 29 min
10
Image of Great Ideas of the Zhou—Legalism
Great Ideas of the Zhou—Legalism
0 of 28 min
11
Image of The Qin and the First Emperor of China
The Qin and the First Emperor of China
0 of 28 min
12
Image of Contact with the West—The Early Han
Contact with the West—The Early Han
0 of 29 min
13
Image of Triumph and Tragedy—The Later Han
Triumph and Tragedy—The Later Han
0 of 28 min
14
Image of Silk Roads—In the Footsteps of Nomads
Silk Roads—In the Footsteps of Nomads
0 of 28 min
15
Image of Silk Roads—The Envoy Zhang Qian
Silk Roads—The Envoy Zhang Qian
0 of 29 min
16
Image of Silk Roads—Perils of Camels and Caravans
Silk Roads—Perils of Camels and Caravans
0 of 28 min
17
Image of Silk Roads—Rome and Roads from the West
Silk Roads—Rome and Roads from the West
0 of 30 min
18
Image of Silk Roads—The Lost Kushan Empire
Silk Roads—The Lost Kushan Empire
0 of 29 min
19
Image of Origins of Buddhism
Origins of Buddhism
0 of 29 min
20
Image of The Age of Disunity
The Age of Disunity
0 of 29 min
21
Image of The Great Taizong and the Rise of the Tang
The Great Taizong and the Rise of the Tang
0 of 28 min
22
Image of Changan and the Glittering Tang
Changan and the Glittering Tang
0 of 28 min
23
Image of Korea—Mysterious Beginnings
Korea—Mysterious Beginnings
0 of 29 min
24
Image of Korea—The Land of Morning Calm
Korea—The Land of Morning Calm
0 of 29 min
25
Image of Korea—The Unified Silla
Korea—The Unified Silla
0 of 28 min
26
Image of Korea—The Koryo
Korea—The Koryo
0 of 29 min
27
Image of Japan—Geography and Early Cultures
Japan—Geography and Early Cultures
0 of 29 min
28
Image of Japan—Treasures of the Tomb Period
Japan—Treasures of the Tomb Period
0 of 29 min
29
Image of Japan—Nara and the Great Eastern Temple
Japan—Nara and the Great Eastern Temple
0 of 28 min
30
Image of Japan—The World of the Heian
Japan—The World of the Heian
0 of 28 min
31
Image of Southeast Asia—Vietnam
Southeast Asia—Vietnam
0 of 29 min
32
Image of Southeast Asia—Indian and Islamic Influences
Southeast Asia—Indian and Islamic Influences
0 of 29 min
33
Image of The Industrial Revolution of the Song
The Industrial Revolution of the Song
0 of 30 min
34
Image of Intellectual and Cultural Life of the Song
Intellectual and Cultural Life of the Song
0 of 29 min
35
Image of The Mongols Conquer the World
The Mongols Conquer the World
0 of 28 min
36
Image of Shaking the Foundation—Mongols in the East
Shaking the Foundation—Mongols in the East
0 of 28 min
37
Image of The Rise of the Ming
The Rise of the Ming
0 of 27 min
38
Image of Great Treasure Fleets of the Ming
Great Treasure Fleets of the Ming
0 of 29 min
39
Image of The Qing—Nomads Return from the North
The Qing—Nomads Return from the North
0 of 29 min
40
Image of The Qing—The Last Emperor of China
The Qing—The Last Emperor of China
0 of 30 min
41
Image of Korea Choson—Rise of the Yangban
Korea Choson—Rise of the Yangban
0 of 29 min
42
Image of Korea Choson—The Last Dynasty
Korea Choson—The Last Dynasty
0 of 28 min
43
Image of Medieval Japan—Samurai and Shoguns
Medieval Japan—Samurai and Shoguns
0 of 28 min
44
Image of Tokugawa and Meiji Japan
Tokugawa and Meiji Japan
0 of 28 min
45
Image of The People’s Republic of China
The People’s Republic of China
0 of 28 min
46
Image of Isolation and Cold War Conflicts
Isolation and Cold War Conflicts
0 of 28 min
47
Image of The Rise of the East Asian Tigers
The Rise of the East Asian Tigers
0 of 29 min
48
Image of The Enduring Ideas of Eastern Civilization
The Enduring Ideas of Eastern Civilization
0 of 36 min

Reviews

i********m
September 18, 2019
This man KNOWS his subject. Good job. Dense and tightly packed with info. I had to digest it in stages but he keeps on delivering like a well tuned machine. Good course. I was scared to tackle this but the enthusiasm of Dr. Benjamin gave me hope and encouragement for which I am grateful.

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m********m
September 10, 2019

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p********m
August 11, 2019

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