Foundations of Eastern Civilization

China. Korea. Japan. Southeast Asia. How did Eastern civilization develop? What do we know about the history, politics, governments, art, science, and technology of these countries? And how does the story of Eastern civilization play out in today's world of business, politics, and international exchange? Over the course of 48 ambitious lectures, take a grand journey through Eastern civilization to study everything 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. While China is home to some of the great moments in world history and a major focal point for this course, you'll also take several extended forays into Central and Southeast Asia to build a comprehensive picture of Eastern civilization. "To truly understand the modern world, it is essential to know something about the many extraordinary contributions Eastern civilization has made," Professor Benjamin says. "Simply put, it is not enough to know just the 'Western' half of the story any more-both Eastern and Western are critical to understanding our present and our future." Now is your chance to fill in the other half of the story. You may be surprised to realize that all of us have been students of Eastern civilization, even if we have not been aware of it. Filled with captivating stories and surprising details, this course will open up an entirely new world for you as it unfolds the story of Eastern civilization.

All Lectures:
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
5. The Shang and Writing for the Gods
6. The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven
7. Great Ideas of the Zhou - Confucianism
8. Great Ideas of the Zhou - Later Confucianism
9. Great Ideas of the Zhou - Daoism
10. Great Ideas of the Zhou - Legalism
11. The Qin and the First Emperor of China
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
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
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