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Story of China
Christian Missionary Matteo Ricci Journeys to China
Michael Wood arrives in the old Portuguese colony of Macao, the Europeans' first foothold in China. The Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci came here 1582, with the aim of converting the emperor and his people to Christianity. In today's cathedral in Beijing, Michael hears why Ricci is still so important to the 70 million Chinese Christians today.
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55:18
The great Taiping Rebellion, the fall of the Empire and the rise of Mao.
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55:48
Michael Wood tells the dramatic tale of China's last empire, the Qing.
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56:48
The time of the Great Wall , the Forbidden City and treasure ships sent on ocean voyages.
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Michael Wood tells the tale of China's Renaissance.
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57:33
Michael Wood conjures up China's first great international age, the Tang Dynasty.
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Michael Wood returns to the beginnings of Chinese history to find clues to today's China.