From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History

This new series from the Teaching Company comprises 36 half-hour lectures covering Chinese history from the beginnings of civilization in Asia Major to the present (the cute title is a bit misleading, since Yao, the legendary king of the Zhou dynasty whose reign is dated ca. 2300 B.C., doesn't actually appear until the third lecture, after sections dealing with geography and prehistory). The instructor is Dr. Kenneth J. Hammond, who holds a Ph.D. in History and East Asian Languages from Harvard and has taught at New Mexico State University since 1994. Hammond is a solid lecturer--intelligent, articulate and affable--who does, unfortunately, have a tendency to speak more quickly as the series progresses. This minor quibble aside, Hammond's presentation has all the virtues of a good textbook on the subject, providing a clear, often insightful overview, incorporating useful maps and illustrations, and spelling out names and technical terms for viewers (the equivalent of blackboard addenda), all of which make the DVD version superior to the audio one. Occasionally the emphases (or lack of) are jarring (it's curious that Communist China's estrangement from the Soviet Union, as well as the opening of diplomatic doors with the U.S. during the Nixon administration, are barely mentioned), but the country's internal development is well-handled, and this set is sure to find favor in both academic collections and public libraries, where the growing legions of adult learners will appreciate having access to this college course in a box (bundled with a complete transcript). Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)