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Story of China

The Chinese Voyages of Exploration

We all know about Columbus, but what about the great Chinese ocean voyages that took place before his time? Michael Wood tells the story of the Chinese Admiral Zheng He and his voyages to the west. He asks too, why were they stopped? "Some say it would be like stopping moon exploration after Apollo 8," says Michael. "But the Chinese had a different view."

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The Age of Revolution
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55:18
The great Taiping Rebellion, the fall of the Empire and the rise of Mao.
The Last Empire
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55:48
Michael Wood tells the dramatic tale of China's last empire, the Qing.
The Ming
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56:48
The time of the Great Wall , the Forbidden City and treasure ships sent on ocean voyages.
Golden Age
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55:18
Michael Wood tells the tale of China's Renaissance.
Silk Roads and China Ships
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57:33
Michael Wood conjures up China's first great international age, the Tang Dynasty.
Ancestors
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55:18
Michael Wood returns to the beginnings of Chinese history to find clues to today's China.
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