Ken Hammond did a lecture series titled From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History and it's a really good place to start if you want to understand the sprawling, messy history of China.
is there a difference between the audiobook and youtube lecture series?
I listened to it as an audiobook and I followed it pretty well.
There are some important graphics like maps to help you get your head around the geography and changes to borders that crop up in the series but for the most part it's pretty light-on with regards to visuals.
It depends on the level of knowledge you're coming at it from but you'll probably find yourself either occasionally pausing to look up a map on the Boxer Rebellion, for example, to make sense of what's going on where or you won't really need the visuals at all.
If it feels too abstract and the geographical locations aren't making sense then you might want to opt for the video version but it's a really old recording that was done prior to the advent of video essays so most of the video is going to be Ken Hammond talking in front of a lectern rather than being anything that has visual appeal.
I think that there's one episode which is/was out of order in the series that I listened to (screen off, YouTube playlist, has since been DCMA'd) but I'm not sure if that's true for what's out there now or if someone fixed it up.
trying to find a copy 🏴☠️
i listened to a bit and it seems really interesting, might fork over $$$ when i get some spare cash
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
oh yeah they mention that series at the end of this episode, have not listened to it but probably will eventually, his interviews on Breakthrough News always have some interesting tidbits of history, and a lot of commentary on currents events too of course
