Description: The past 150 years of economic and political development in the Pacific Basin are surveyed in this extraordinary series. The Pacific Century studies the interconnections between Pacific nations - and between those nations and the United States - within a geographical, cultural, and historical framework.

Description: The past 150 years of economic and political development in the Pacific Basin are surveyed in this extraordinary series. The Pacific Century studies the interconnections between Pacific nations - and between those nations and the United States - within a geographical, cultural, and historical framework.

Description: The past 150 years of economic and political development in the Pacific Basin are surveyed in this extraordinary series. The Pacific Century studies the interconnections between Pacific nations - and between those nations and the United States - within a geographical, cultural, and historical framework.

Description: The past 150 years of economic and political development in the Pacific Basin are surveyed in this extraordinary series. The Pacific Century studies the interconnections between Pacific nations - and between those nations and the United States - within a geographical, cultural, and historical framework.

Description: Discover the history behind the philosophy that has led millions of followers on a quest for spiritual enlightment. Through the epic story of Siddhartha Gotama. learn why Buddhist believe the key to "Nirvana" lies within themselves, accessible through thoughtful meditation and prayer.

Description: Learn how and why Hinduism has survived as one of the oldest and largest world religions with nearly a billion followers located mostly in India. Hinduism encompasses wide practices and traditions largely due to its great capacity to integrate the new with the old. Students will learn about the descendants of the Indus River Valley, who, around 1500 B.C.E., used Sanskrit to transcribe their daily rituals and customs. Students will also discover Hinduism's impact on the literary world with its library of tens of thousands sacred hymns and poems known as the Vedas, which means "truth" or "knowledge."

Description: Islam is one of the greatest monolithic world religions practiced today. Discover the Islamic culture through the daily life and rituals of Muslims around the world.

Description: While the major religions of the Western World affirm a belief in a single God, these two Chinese spiritual movements focus inward on human behavior and thought. Discover the life of the man known as Confucius, and examine how his philosophy and social doctrine have impacted Chinese culture. Learn about Lao-Tzu, the founder of Taoism, and enter the world once shrouded in secrecy as the philosophy and rituals of Taoism are explained.

Description: Explore the rituals and ceremonies of Japan's Shinto, and discover its richly complex and subtle traditions. Students will examine the history and culture of Shinto through interviews and archival and on-location footage. Similar to other ancient traditions, Shinto is rooted in mythology and folk rituals that are passed through the generations, yet it is unique in having no congressional worship, founder or organizing doctrine. Viewers will learn about the social codes, daily life and other distinguishing features of Shinto or, "the way of the Kami" -- which, loosely translated, means "God" or "the sacred." See how over the centuries these traditions have served to unify Japan nationally, and, at different times, mobilized the country politically.