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Turning Points in Modern History

Get a unique view of world history by immersing yourself in the fascinating story of the discoveries, inventions, upheavals, and ideas that shaped the modern world.

Watch First Lecture

1433—The Great Voyages of Admiral Zheng He
1 1433—The Great Voyages of Admiral Zheng He - 31 min
Explore the idea of modernity and define “turning point.” Then, consider why Chinese admiral Zheng He’s voyages promoting the power of China’s authority did not continue as part of a larger campaign of discovery—and what the consequences might have been had he reached the Americas.

24 Lectures

1
Image of 1433—The Great Voyages of Admiral Zheng He
1433—The Great Voyages of Admiral Zheng He
0 of 31 min
2
Image of 1453—The Fall of Constantinople
1453—The Fall of Constantinople
0 of 31 min
3
Image of 1455—Gutenberg’s Print Revolution
1455—Gutenberg’s Print Revolution
0 of 31 min
4
Image of 1492—The Columbian Exchange
1492—The Columbian Exchange
0 of 31 min
5
Image of 1600—The British East India Company
1600—The British East India Company
0 of 31 min
6
Image of 1648—The Treaty of Westphalia
1648—The Treaty of Westphalia
0 of 31 min
7
Image of 1676—Van Leeuwenhoek’s Microscope
1676—Van Leeuwenhoek’s Microscope
0 of 30 min
8
Image of 1751—Diderot’s Enlightenment Encyclopedia
1751—Diderot’s Enlightenment Encyclopedia
0 of 31 min
9
Image of 1787—The American Experiment
1787—The American Experiment
0 of 30 min
10
Image of 1789—The French Revolution
1789—The French Revolution
0 of 30 min
11
Image of 1838—The British Slavery Abolition Act
1838—The British Slavery Abolition Act
0 of 30 min
12
Image of 1839—The Opium War in China
1839—The Opium War in China
0 of 29 min
13
Image of 1859—Darwin and the Origin of Species
1859—Darwin and the Origin of Species
0 of 31 min
14
Image of 1869—Binding Continents
1869—Binding Continents
0 of 30 min
15
Image of 1893—First Women Voters in New Zealand
1893—First Women Voters in New Zealand
0 of 30 min
16
Image of 1896—The Invention of Motion Pictures
1896—The Invention of Motion Pictures
0 of 30 min
17
Image of 1903—Kitty Hawk and Powered Flight
1903—Kitty Hawk and Powered Flight
0 of 30 min
18
Image of 1904—The Russo-Japanese War
1904—The Russo-Japanese War
0 of 30 min
19
Image of 1928—The Discovery of Penicillin
1928—The Discovery of Penicillin
0 of 30 min
20
Image of 1942—The Dawn of the Atom
1942—The Dawn of the Atom
0 of 29 min
21
Image of 1969—Walking on the Moon
1969—Walking on the Moon
0 of 30 min
22
Image of 1972—China Enters the World Balance
1972—China Enters the World Balance
0 of 30 min
23
Image of 1989—The Fall of the Berlin Wall
1989—The Fall of the Berlin Wall
0 of 30 min
24
Image of 2004—The Rise of Social Media
2004—The Rise of Social Media
0 of 32 min

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