David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_christian_big_history

Backed by stunning illustrations, David Christian narrates a complete history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet, in a riveting 18 minutes. This is "Big History": an enlightening, wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline.


http://www.ted.com/playlists/311/time_warp

Cathay 契丹

Cathay is a name we are so familiar with.  I had never thought of its origin and was delighted to discover the links between Cathay and China, Cathay and  契丹 (its Chinese translation)  from:

http://international.confuciusglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:2012-05-31-16-53-30&catid=4:2&Itemid=11

The full text is in Chinese:

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儒學傳播英國

岳陽大學儒學研究所  朱仁夫  新加坡大學  魏維賢

英國了解中國，始於14世紀。當時，馬可·波羅的中國遊記在歐洲傳誦，英國人喬叟寫作《侍從的故事》裏，提到了成吉思汗“勇敢、善戰、賢明、富有、守信、仁愛”。

歐洲人通稱中國為“契丹”(Cathay)，稱中國人為“契丹人”。

南宋時代，中國北方為遼，遼原名契丹。

元朝統一中國後，歐洲人仍沿用舊名稱中國為契丹，英國莎士比亞戲劇裏幾次提到契丹人。

世界地理大發現後，西元1576～1581年間，英國有一個向外發展的計劃，名為“契丹探險”(Cathay venture)，目的在尋找一條近路，通往亞洲，參加者有政界人士、朝廷官吏、商界領袖、航海家、輿地學者，伊莉莎白女王充任該計劃股東。

但是計劃未能實現。後來，歐洲人又稱中國為“塞利卡那”（Sericana），意謂“絲綢之國”；稱中國為“西那”（Sena），其來源是Sin，Thin，Chin(秦)。

Source of information:

http://international.confuciusglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:2012-05-31-16-53-30&catid=4:2&Itemid=11

BTV档案_宋氏家族往事-宋霭龄

3 videos Play all

BTV档案.宋氏家族往事.宋霭龄 by Ninh Chu

BTV档案_宋氏家族往事-宋霭龄 1/3 高清720P

BTV档案_宋氏家族往事-宋霭龄 2/3 高清720P

BTV档案_宋氏家族往事-宋霭龄 3/3 高清720P

view full playlist (3 videos)

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I just viewed the videos this morning and find it enlightening to learn about her life in restrospect!

How wealth, family and politics are being linked together in the past and it is a good mirror for us to see the present. 

With this understanding, it is easier to understand the complex connections in present day China and the political links great family worked together to make things happen in the east or the west ...

Being NO BODY, we are able to view this kind of development from a distance and have a clearer mind set!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

研究遺憾: 歷史學

「歷史學就是研究遺憾的一門學科，它專門來發現總結：原來人們可以這樣做，不是那樣做。所以歷史學家研究這麼多遺憾，他常有扼腕之痛。」

上海大學歷史系朱學勤教授談及辛亥­­革命時如此說!

Source of information:
鏗鏘集 百年一願

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WK3YtvmKjc&feature=relmfu