CF

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

23h 27m 29s
English
Paid

Explore the fascinating origins of East Asian civilization in this comprehensive course, which delves into the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Overview of Eastern Civilization

While much of our historical understanding is centered on Western civilization, Eastern civilization presents an equally intriguing narrative with significant impacts on contemporary society. This course invites you on a grand journey to explore the major accomplishments of Eastern civilization, ranging from the material economy of everyday life to the enduring political and religious philosophies that have bound Eastern cultures for millennia.

Course Details

Join Professor Craig G. Benjamin from Grand Valley State University as he guides you through the extensive landscape of Eastern civilization. Over the course of 48 lectures, you'll encounter influential people, groundbreaking achievements, and transformative ideas that emerged from the East and have been pivotal in shaping the modern world.

About the Authors

Dr. Craig G. Benjamin

Dr. Craig G. Benjamin thumbnail

Dr. Craig G. Benjamin is a US history professor (Grand Valley State University) specialising in the history of Eastern civilisations, particularly the Silk Road and Inner Asian history. His teaching material has been published as on-demand video courses for general adult audiences.

His CourseFlix listing carries Foundations of Eastern Civilization — a comprehensive university-level lecture series on the historical development of East and Inner Asian civilisations from prehistory through the modern era.

Material is paid and aimed at general adult learners interested in world history. The course sits in the broader History and Culture catalog on CourseFlix as a general-interest reference rather than as a software-engineering track.

Wondrium (The Great Courses)

Wondrium (The Great Courses) thumbnail

Wondrium (formerly The Great Courses Plus and originally The Great Courses) is a US online education platform that has been publishing university-level video lecture series since 1990. The platform's distinctive contribution is the depth and production quality of its courses — each is taught by a tenured university professor with the production values of a documentary series, not a YouTube tutorial.

The catalog covers academic disciplines rather than technical-skill training: history, philosophy, science, mathematics, literature, music theory, religion, economics. Material is taught by faculty from Stanford, Yale, Princeton, the University of Chicago, MIT, and similar institutions. Wondrium is typically used by intellectually-curious adult learners filling in the liberal-arts side of their education.

The CourseFlix listing under this source carries over 19 Wondrium / Great Courses titles spanning that range — sitting in the broader CourseFlix catalog as general-interest reference rather than as a software-engineering track. Material is paid; Wondrium itself runs on a monthly / annual subscription on the original platform.

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#1: 1 Journey to the East
All Course Lessons (48)
#Lesson TitleDurationAccess
1
1 Journey to the East Demo
30:21
2
2 Yin and Yang - The Geography of China
28:10
3
3 Early China of the Shang
29:57
4
4 The Coming of the Shang
28:08
5
5 The Shang and Writing for the Gods
29:57
6
6 The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven
29:49
7
7 Great Idea of the Zhou-Confucianism
28:35
8
8 Great Ideas of the Zhou-Later Confucianism
28:35
9
9 Great Ideas of the Zhou-Daoism
29:18
10
10 Great Ideas of the Zhou-Legalism
28:17
11
11 The Qin and the First Emperor of China
28:51
12
12 Contact with the West - The Early Han
29:30
13
13 Triumph and Tragedy - THe Later Han
28:42
14
14 Silk Roads - In the Footsteps of Nomads
28:32
15
15 Silk Roads - The Envoy Zhang Qian
29:33
16
16 Silk Roads - Perils of Camels and Caravans
28:29
17
17 Silk Roads - Rome and Roads from the West
30:10
18
18 Silk Roads - The Lost Kushan Empire
30:00
19
19 Origins of Buddhism
29:52
20
20 The Age of Disunity
29:35
21
21 The Great Taizong and the Rise of the Tang
28:47
22
22 Changan and the Glittering Tang
28:25
23
23 Korea - Mysterious Beginnings
29:14
24
24 Korea - The Land of Morning Calm
29:58
25
25 Korea - The Unified Silla
28:40
26
26 Korea - The Koryo
29:11
27
27 Japan - Geography and Early Cultures
29:51
28
28 Japan - Treasures of the Tomb Period
29:56
29
29 Japan - Nara and the Great Eastern Temple
28:28
30
30 Japan - The World of the Heian
28:36
31
31 Southeast Asia - Vietnam
29:13
32
32 Southeast Asia - Indian and Islamic Influences
29:08
33
33 The Industrial Revolution of the Song
30:59
34
34 Intellectual and Cultural Life of the Song
29:05
35
35 The Mongols Conquer the World
28:38
36
36 Shaking the Foundation - Mongols in the East
28:58
37
37 The Rise of the Ming
27:58
38
38 Great Treasure Fleets of the Ming
29:53
39
39 The Qing - Nomads Return from the North
29:43
40
40 The Qing - The Last Emperor of China
30:13
41
41 Korea Choson - Rise of the Yangban
29:06
42
42 Korea Choson - The Last Dynasty
28:34
43
43 Medieval Japan - Samurai and Shoguns
28:38
44
44 Tokugawa and Meiji Japan
28:44
45
45 The people's Republic of China
28:28
46
46 Isolation and Cold War Coflicts
28:31
47
47 The Rise of the East Asian Tigers
29:16
48
48 The Enduring Ideas of Eastern Civilization
36:57
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Frequently asked questions

What prerequisites should I have before enrolling in this course?
There are no specific prerequisites for enrolling in the Foundations of Eastern Civilization course. It is designed to be accessible to anyone with an interest in learning about the historical and cultural development of Eastern civilizations. Prior knowledge of general world history might be helpful but is not necessary.
What time commitment is required for this course?
The course includes a total of 48 lectures. The exact runtime is not specified, so prospective students should consider setting aside a reasonable amount of time to cover each lecture thoroughly. Given the number of lessons, students might consider dedicating several weeks to complete the course, depending on their personal schedules.
What topics are not covered in this course?
While the course covers a wide range of topics in Eastern civilization, it does not specifically focus on contemporary geopolitical issues or modern economic policies in East Asia. The course ends with a lecture on enduring ideas of Eastern civilization, so recent developments may not be included.
What specific tools or platforms are used in this course?
The course does not rely on specific tools or platforms beyond standard educational materials such as lectures and historical references. It focuses on historical content and analysis rather than practical applications requiring specialized software or technology.
What can I expect to learn about the interaction between Eastern and Western civilizations?
The course includes lessons such as 'Contact with the West - The Early Han' and 'Silk Roads - Rome and Roads from the West,' which explore interactions between Eastern and Western civilizations. These lectures discuss the exchanges that occurred via the Silk Roads and how these interactions influenced cultural and economic developments.
Who is the target audience for this course?
The course targets individuals interested in understanding the historical and cultural foundations of Eastern civilizations, including students, history enthusiasts, and professionals seeking to broaden their knowledge of East Asian influences. It is suitable for anyone curious about the historical impacts of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
How does this course compare in depth to other history courses?
This course offers an extensive exploration of Eastern civilization, encompassing 48 lectures that cover a broad timeline from early China to modern developments. Compared to more specialized courses, it provides a wide-ranging overview rather than an in-depth focus on a narrow period or aspect, making it suitable for learners seeking a comprehensive introduction to Eastern history.