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.

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.

Many nations define themselves in terms of territory or people; China defines itself in terms of history. Taking into account the country's unrivaled, voluminous tradition of history writing, John Keay has composed a vital and illuminating overview of the nation's complex and vivid past. Keay's authoritative history examines 5,000 years in China, from the time of the Three Dynasties through Chairman Mao and the current economic transformation of the country.

When Senator Aulus Aemilius Galba is tapped to lead the first Roman mission to China, he anticipates an easy path to fame and fortune. Gaius Lucullus sees a bright military future, but his reluctant centurion Antonius Aristides would rather be somewhere else. Translators Marcia Lucia and her brother Marcus were taken from their village in China to serve the Han court, abused and despised, hiding a horrible secret.

Step into a world where justice is not merely enforced—but pursued with intellect, courage, and moral clarity. The Cases of Judge Peng presents a masterfully adapted translation of the classical Chinese gong’an tradition—where crime, philosophy, and human nature intersect within the intricate structure of imperial law. Set against the backdrop of Imperial China, this collection unfolds a series of gripping investigations shaped by deception, loyalty, and hidden motives. From shadowed temples and corrupt officials to outlaw brotherhoods and imperial conspiracies, each case reveals a ...

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.

When Judge Di arrives in the remote village of Yangwei to introduce himself as the region's new magistrate, he is unexpectedly drawn into a mysterious murder case. A man has been brutally murdered in the local abandoned pagoda at night - his skin ripped from his body. Judge Di begins his investigation, and the more he learns about the history of the pagoda and the customs of the village, the more baffling the case becomes. Torn between superstition and real evidence, Judge Di must find a way to uncover the truth behind this inhuman act. In classic style, this thrilling detective story takes...

🔍 What's it about? In this new novel, Judge Dee must assert himself in the rain-soaked and corruption-ridden trading city of Lan-fang. No sooner has he arrived than he finds himself facing not only hostile guild masters, but also three interwoven mysteries that demand all his ingenuity. A fisherman pulls a headless corpse dressed in a precious silk robe from the Imperial Canal—is it the missing guild master Wang? At the same time, a well-known usurer dies under mysterious circumstances in the arms of his young concubine, and a legendary puzzle box poses a riddle. As if that weren't ...

Embark on an epic journey through ancient history as rival dynasties forge the world's longest-surviving civilization. Perfect for your daily commute or focused learning, this sweeping narrative transforms thousands of years of triumphs, rebellions, and intellectual revolutions into an immersive...

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.

Did you know that the Chinese New Year (過年) began as the Hebrew Passover (逾越節)? Did you know that the red on the door posts and lintels of Chinese homes (now red banners) used to be the blood of the Passover Sacrifice? Did you know that Israelites (以色列人) settled in China shortly after the 10 Tribes were conquered and exiled by the Neo-Assyrians in year c. 722 BCE? Did you know that scattered Israelites also settled in Korea and Japan? This work uncovers little-known evidence of a group of Israelites (בני ישראל) that settled in China in year c. 712 BCE. The Hebrew ...

Academic Links “Quick Read” series is a history collection designed to introduce readers to important topics from the past and spark an interest to learn more. These books contain short, easy to read articles that relate to the main topic and make each subject engaging and accessible. The series encourages curiosity, helps readers explore new ideas, and opens the door to deeper learning about history and the world. Each book introduces different time periods, events, and topics in history while helping readers build a stronger understanding of the past and how it connects to today. ...

Military Strategy Classics of Ancient China presents modern translations of eight of the most important and relevant military texts from antiquity, which have gained new prominence among Western students of Eastern military strategy and philosophy. In a collection spanning twenty centuries, each text in Chen Song’s groundbreaking translation is presented in modern English, followed by Chinese characters. These texts provide background for a wide range of disciplines, including history, linguistics, wuxia, martial arts, business and legal doctrine. Contents include: The Six Secret ...

The man who unified China — and built an army of clay to guard him in death. In 1974, a farmer digging a well in central China struck something hard. Within months, archaeologists understood what he had found: eight thousand life-size terracotta soldiers, buried in battle formation, guarding the tomb of the First Emperor of China. Beyond them, still unexcavated, lay the tomb itself. His birth name was Ying Zheng. By thirty-eight he had conquered six rival kingdoms, declared himself First Emperor, and imposed on a vast and culturally diverse territory the most ambitious administrative ...

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!

When archaeologists uncovered the untouched tomb of Lady Fu Hao in 1976, they didn’t just find treasure, they found a story that rewrote history. She wasn’t just a queen. She was a fierce general, a high priestess, and a leader lost to time… until now.

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.

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.

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.

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.