The Rise of the Great Powers
1. Age of Seafaring: The Opening, Portugal and Spain
2. A Small Nation with a Great Cause: the Netherlands
3. Advancement Towards a Modern Age: Britain
4. The Pioneer of Industrialisation: Britain
5. Years of Enthusiasm: France
6. History of an Empire: Germany
7. A Century of Reform: Japan
8. Seeking the Way to Strengthen the Nation: Tsarist Russia
9. An Unstable Situation and a New Path: Soviet Union
10. A New Nation and a New Dream: United States
11. Crisis and the New Deal: United States
12. Thoughts on the Great Path: Conclusion
Overview
The Rise of the Great Powers is a 12-part Chinese documentary television series produced by CCTV. It was first broadcast on CCTV-2 from 13 to 24 November 2006. It discusses the rise of nine great powers: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States. The documentary "endorses the idea that China should study the experiences of nations and empires it once condemned as aggressors bent on exploitation" and analyses the reasons why the nine nations rose to become great powers, from the Portuguese Empire to American hegemony. The series was produced by an "elite team of Chinese historians" who also briefed the Politburo on the subject." In the West the airing of Rise of the Great Powers has been seen as a sign that China is becoming increasingly open to discussing its growing international power and influence—referred to by the Chinese government as "China's peaceful rise."
