Professor Richard Baum, University of California, Los Angeles, delivers 48 lectures on the history of China.

"A vibrant, colorful, and revelatory inner history of China during a moment of profound transformation From abroad, we often see China as a caricature: a nation of pragmatic plutocrats and ruthlessly dedicated students destined to rule the global economy--or an addled Goliath, riddled with corruption and on the edge of stagnation. What we don't see is how both powerful and ordinary people are remaking their lives as their country dramatically changes....

An informative account of the more than 7,000-year-old civilization of China including insights into the individuals who helped shape this country.

Describes the discoveries and inventions of the ancient Chinese from four thousand years ago through the sixteenth century, and explains how they effected the way in which Chinese society remained Chinese.