Asia Audiobooks | History

"A savage indictment of religious extremism and man's inhumanity to man, Lajja was banned in Bangladesh but became a bestseller in the rest of the world. This brand-new translation marks the twentieth anniversary of this controversial novel. The Dattas Sudhamoy and Kironmoyee and their children, Suronjon and Maya have lived in Bangladesh all their lives. Despite being members of a small Hindu community that is terrorized at every opportunity by Muslim fundamentalists, they refuse to leave their country, unlike most of their friends and relatives. Sudhamoy believes with a naive mix of optimism and idealism that his motherland will not let him down. And then, on 6 December 1992, the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya is demolished by a mob of Hindu fundamentalists. The world condemns the incident, but its immediate fallout is felt most acutely in Bangladesh, where Muslim mobs begin to seek out and attack the Hindus. The nightmare inevitably arrives at the Dattas' doorstep and their world begins to fall apart."

Taslima Nasrin (Author), Mala Mangla (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Battle of Tsushima: The History and Legacy of the Decisive Naval Battle that Ended the Russo-Jap

"By the end of the 19th century, the Russian Empire seemed to be at the zenith of its power and reach. It was the largest country in the world, stretching from the Black Sea on the eastern edge of Europe to the Bering Straits in the extreme east of Asia. Even by rail, it took over ten days to travel from one side of the country to the other. Its standing army of over 1.3 million men was the largest in the world, and the “Russian Steamroller” was regarded as one of the most potent military forces available to any ruler. The sudden and unexpected rise of Japanese influence in the region was opposed by Russia, Germany, and France, who threatened war with Japan unless the terms that ended the war were changed. Reluctantly, the Japanese agreed to withdraw from Manchuria, but they never forgot or forgave what they saw as the way in which the unwarranted European influence was used against them. Japanese suspicions were reinforced when Russia subsequently concluded a treaty of alliance with China and forced the tottering regime to grant a lease of the Liaodong peninsula to Russia. Russian troops occupied Port Arthur and began to build massive fortifications around the city. The port was linked to Russia by a new railroad that connected to the Trans-Siberian Railroad at the Chinese city of Harbin. Russia also insisted on the right to use its troops to defend the new railroad throughout its length in China. Although the terms by which Russia leased the port from China were temporary, it was clear that Port Arthur was intended to become Russia’s new warm-water port on the Pacific. To most observers, it seemed clear that Japan and Russia were destined to come into conflict in Korea and Manchuria. Both empires were set on expansion, and both saw these areas as important. However, Russia’s vastly larger population, army, and navy seemed to make it inevitable that Japan would lose if the conflict escalated into war."

Charles River Editors (Author), Colin Fluxman (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Forthcoming End of the Kali Yuga: Unravelling Cyclical Time in Ancient India

"Hinduism has a complex system of world ages and cycles of creation and destruction as its chief characteristics. The remarkable theory of the yugas has always played a prominent role within this elaborate system. The article explains why society is and what people should do if they want to live according to religious principles. India’s yuga system was formed during a crucial period in its history, roughly from the 5th century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E. The dominant Brahmana Vedic tradition had to adapt and transform to survive. It was a period of profound change in all spheres: social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical. Several challenges that confronted the authoritative religious traditions of the Time also led to revolutionary ideas that would become syncretic new religious traditions. During this period, Buddhism and Jainism emerged, and the reworked Brahmana religion we all know today as Hinduism. It was not precisely the need to confront these profound shifts in Indian religious traditions and social conditions that provided the fertile ground for a theory of world ages."

Henry Romano (Author), Alastair Cameron (Narrator)

Audiobook

Strange Legends of Sanskrit Literature: The Greatest Epics of Lost Technologies, Ancient Advanced Ci

"The Vedic and Sanskrit periods are different in matter, spirit, and form from the earlier periods. Sanskrit literature, which is abundant and well developed, is profane; Vedic literature is primarily religious. However, the Upanishads also contain a moralizing spirit despite their speculative tendencies. The Hindu Vedas are filled with gods’ stories, powers, and epic battles supposedly fought thousands of years ago. Sagas are mythological stories intended to be taken as allegories to learn valuable lessons for life. Hindu myths tell of noble gods fighting evil forces, flying Vimanas machines, and battles with powerful weapons. Can we be sure these are just metaphors? Vimana means “having been measured out” or “traveling,” and they were machines that the gods piloted. This flying craft came in various shapes and sizes and could travel a wide range of speeds and distances, like the chariots found in biblical texts. According to Hindu Sanskrit texts, the Vimana aircraft are flying machines of various degrees of sophistication. In comparison with the Vedic age, religion now prevails significantly differently. Several gods are worshipped in the new period, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Most of the prominent deities of the Veda have become secondary deities, although Indra still holds a prominent position as the chief of a warrior’s heaven. As well as the serpent deities and several classes of demigods and demons, some new gods of lesser ranks have also developed, such as Kubera, goddess of wealth; Ganesh, goddess of learning; Karttikeya, god of war; Shri or Lakshmi, goddess of beauty and fortune; and Durga or Parvati, the terrible spouse of Shiva."

Henry Romano (Author), Alastair Cameron (Narrator)

Audiobook

Portuguese Macau: The Settlement That Became China’s Gambling Paradise

"Macau is known as the Las Vegas of China. It attracts many tourists every year, and it has a unique set of laws and history behind it. How did it become this way? Well, one of the reasons is that it used to be part of the Portuguese Empire. We have probably all heard about the British in China, the Opium Wars, and the tea export, but you might not have heard about the Portuguese settlers who went there. Macau still shows signs of Portuguese influence, even when you go there to visit. So, let’s take a look at what happened and how the area evolved into what it is today."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Confucius: His Religion, Philosophy, and Teachings

"Confucius was a Chinese thinker and political leader who was considered as the apotheosis of Chinese sages. Confucius' theories and philosophy, commonly seen as one of the most essential and prominent individuals in human history, created the structure of East Asian civilization and civilization, and stay appropriate across China and East Asia today. Confucianism, his philosophical theories, highlighted personal and governmental morality, social connection precision, justice, generosity, and genuineness. Confucianism was instilled in Chinese civilization and way of living; for Confucians, daily life was a spiritual arena. Throughout the Hundred Schools of Thought age, his disciples contended efficiently with lots of other schools, only to be repressed in favor of the Legalists throughout the Qin dynasty. Confucius' ideas were formally approved in the new administration following Han's success over Chu after Qin's collapse. Confucianism developed into a system known in the West as Neo-Confucianism, and later as New Confucianism, at the time of the Tang and Tune dynasties. Today, we will learn more about this highly influential philosophy, the man who was the author and creator of it, and the consequences it has had on society and cultures across the world, in particular the Chinese culture."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ancient China: Dynasties, Wars, Geography, Art, and More

"It’s hard to cover all of China’s vast history in a short book, but for the sake of leaving out details, we will still give it a try. In this guide, you will be able to learn more about the most important turning events, eras, dynasties, leaders, wars, and cultural aspects of ancient China. Ancient China has different historic periods. The first we will talk about in this book is the Xia Dynasty. And after that, others will be dealt with, as they were the ages that followed that. Then we will discuss the Shang and Zhou dynasty. Enjoy!"

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Chinese Mythology: Gods, Goddesses, and Folklore from Ancient China

"You've probably heard about Greek or Roman folklore, and even of Egyptian gods and goddesses, but have you heard about Chinese folklore? Let's explore this subject in quick, in this succinct book. Chinese folklore is folklore from the geographical area now called China that has been given orally or documented. Several myths from different local and cultural customs are included in Chinese folklore. Much of folklore includes thrilling stories including impressive characters and beings, the use of magic powers, and normally occurs in a mythologically unique area or time. Chinese folklore, like a lot of other folklores, was once thought to be, at the very least in part, a historic record. Chinese folklore, like Chinese folklore, is an important element of Chinese folk faith. Many legends about historic individuals and events have 2 customs: ones that present a more historicized or euhemerized variation and ones that present a more mythological variation. Many myths focus on the whole universe's creation and cosmology, and also its divine beings and people. Production stories, the genesis of things, people, and civilization are all part of folklore."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cambodian Genocide: Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields

"It’s insane to think that mass murder didn’t stop at the end of World War II. Since the Holocaust, various genocides have taken place in different areas of the world. In this book, we’ll talk about something that has often been shoved under the rug, but was definitely a consequence of the Vietnam War, the bombings by the Americans, and a domino effect into an already fragile political country: The nation of Cambodia. The Cambodian genocide was the methodical abuse and death of Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who pushed Cambodia towards being an entirely self-dependent agrarian socialist state. Between 1975 and 1979, 1.5 to 2 million people were murdered, representing about a quarter of Cambodia's population in 1975. (c. 7.8 million). When we look back on this, their ideology seems completely paradoxical, far-fetched, and illogical. Yet, through a considerately high number of propaganda resources and sheer force, the coup forced millions of people from the cities to farmlands, leaving them there to die or be shot because of supposed conspiracies against the regime. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of this ancient Southeast Asian area and learn from what happened."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mao Zedong: The Cultural Revolution and the Communist Party

"Mao Zedong has had a tremendous impact on the Chinese nation. During his Great Leap Forward, he was responsible for more deaths than both Hitler and Stalin, making him the biggest mass murderer in history. Mao Zedong, typically called Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who functioned as the starting dad of peoples's Republic of China (PRC), judgment as the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from 1949 till his death in 1976. Maoism is a Marxist-- Leninist dogma that includes his theories, army operations, and political programs. What happened during the Great Leap Forward? Why did so many farmers starve to death? And what else did Mao Zedong do during his reign? You will find out more about those and other questions in this book."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pol Pot: The Murderous Leader of the Khmer Rouge regime

"He sure had a funny name. And what’s so strange, is that during most of the biggest events in Cambodia, he wasn’t really there. It seems like he was some big orchestrator hiding behind the curtains and silently directing officers to make it all happen. The Cambodia genocide that killed an estimated 2 million of their own citizens has been partially attributed to this maniac. Pol Pot was a Cambodian political leader and revolutionary who worked as Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 till 1979. He was a key member of Cambodia's communist company, the Khmer Rouge, from 1963 to 1997, and acted as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea from 1963 to 1981. He was a Marxist-- Leninist and a Khmer nationalist. Cambodia was changed into a one-party communist state under his management, and the Cambodian genocide happened. Learn more now."

Kelly Mass (Author), Chris Newman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Chinese History: A Comprehensive Guide to Ancient China

"This is a book combo with the following topics: Ancient China: It’s hard to cover all of China’s vast history in a short book, but for the sake of leaving out details, we will still give it a try. In this guide, you will be able to learn more about the most important turning events, eras, dynasties, leaders, wars, and cultural aspects of ancient China. Ancient China has different historic periods. The first we will talk about in this book is the Xia Dynasty. And after that, others will be dealt with, as they were the ages that followed that. Then we will discuss the Shang and Zhou dynasty. Enjoy! Portuguese Macau: Macau is known as the Las Vegas of China. It attracts many tourists every year, and it has a unique set of laws and history behind it. How did it become this way? Well, one of the reasons is that it used to be part of the Portuguese Empire. We have probably all heard about the British in China, the Opium Wars, and the tea export, but you might not have heard about the Portuguese settlers who went there. Macau still shows signs of Portuguese influence, even when you go there to visit. So, let’s take a look at what happened and how the area evolved into what it is today."

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

Asia Audiobooks in History