Yesterday I read a highly readable and educational article of popularized social science of "马平：翻开历史，我看到一本技术手册" at http://www.guancha.cn/MaPing/2016_02_25_352046_5.shtml.  The eassy is an "abridged" history regarding the evolution of human society from the viewpoint of the relation of productivity and production means, but it's kind of a lengthy online article for general readers. 

It's written for general readers all right, but I think its academic level can emulate the ones in NTU''s "文史哲學報" that I used to read in college.  I don't know if "文史哲學報" has had internet version now; even it has, I don't believe there would be any single one could attract so much feedback as the subject article did. 

Please read the article at your leisure; it does tell you something.