Discover the complexity of China's past with this multi-faceted portrayal of the storied nation from a leading expert in the field
The newly revised Second Edition of A History of China delivers a comprehensive treatment of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of China that covers all major events and trends that have shaped the country over the centuries. The book is written in a clear and uncomplicated style, sure to be of assistance to undergraduate students with little prior background knowledge in the subject matter.
The text examines Chinese history through a global lens to better understand how foreign influences affected domestic policies and practices. It includes discussions of the roles played by non-Chinese ethnic groups in China, like the Tibetans and Uyghurs, and the Mongol and Manchu rulers who held power in China for several centuries.
The distinguished author takes pains to incorporate the perspectives and narratives of people traditionally left out of Chinese history, including women, peasants, merchants, and artisans. Readers will also enjoy the inclusion of:
* A thorough introduction to early and ancient Chinese history, including classical China, the first Chinese empires, and religious and political responses to the period between 220 and 581 CE
* An exploration of the restoration of Empire under Sui and Tang, as well as post-Tang society and Glorious Song
* A discussion of China and the Mongol world, including Mongol rule in China and the isolationism and involvement on the global stage of the Ming dynasty
* A treatment of China in global history, including the Qing era, the Republican period, and the Communist era
Perfect for undergraduate students of courses on Chinese history and Central Asian History, the Second Edition of A History of China will also earn a place in the libraries of students studying global history and related classes in history departments and departments of Asian studies.
The Blackwell History of the World Series
The goal of this ambitious series is to provide an accessible source of knowledge about the entire human past, for every curious person in every part of the world. It will comprise some two dozen volumes, of which some provide synoptic views of the history of particular regions while others consider the world as a whole during a particular period of time. The volumes are narrative in form, giving balanced attention to social and cultural history (in the broadest sense) as well as to institutional development and political change. Each provides a systematic account of a very large subject, but they are also both imaginative and interpretative. The Series is intended to be accessible to the widest possible readership, and the accessibility of its volumes is matched by the style of presentation and production.
Autorentext
MORRIS ROSSABI, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of History at City University of New York and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. He is the author of several celebrated works on Asian history and has collaborated on exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Klappentext
DISCOVER THE COMPLEXITY OF CHINA'S PAST WITH THIS MULTI-FACETED PORTRAYAL OF THE STORIED NATION FROM A LEADING EXPERT IN THE FIELD
The newly revised Second Edition of A History of China delivers a comprehensive exploration of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of China, covering all major events and trends that have shaped the country over the centuries. This book examines Chinese history through a global lens to better understand the ways in which foreign influences affected domestic policies and practices. It includes discussions of the roles played by non-Chinese ethnic groups in China, such as the Tibetans and Uyghurs, and the Mongol and Manchu rulers who held power in China for several centuries.
In this Second Edition, Morris Rossabi incorporates the perspectives and narratives of those who are traditionally excluded from Chinese history, including women, peasants, merchants, and artisans. This new edition also includes::
- A thorough introduction to early and ancient Chinese history, including classical China, the first Chinese empires, and religious and political responses to the period between 220 and 581 CE
- An exploration of the restoration of Empire under Sui and Tang, as well as post-Tang society and Glorious Song
- A discussion of China and the Mongol world, including Mongol rule in China and the isolationism and involvement on the global stage of the Ming dynasty
- A treatment of China in global history, including the Qing era, the Republican period, and the Communist era
Perfect for undergraduate students of courses on Chinese history and Central Asian history, the Second Edition of A History of China will also earn a place in the libraries of students studying global history and related classes in history departments and departments of Asian studies. The clear and uncomplicated style of this book also suits it to those with little prior background knowledge, or even just an interest in the history of China.
Inhalt
Series Editor's Preface x
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
List of Illustrations xix
List of Maps xxii
A Note on Romanization xxiii
Part I China Among Barbarians 1
1 Early History, to 1027 BCE 3
Land and Settlement 3
Early Mankind 5
Agricultural Revolution in the Neolithic Era 6
Xia: The First Dynasty? 11
The Shang and the Origins of Chinese Civilization 15
Oracle Bones 17
Ritual Objects as Historical Sources 18
Shang Society 20
Note 23
Further Reading 23
2 Classical China, 1027256 BCE 24
Feudalism? 24
Changes in Social Structure 29
Political Instability in the Eastern Zhou 30
Transformations in the Economy 33
Hundred Schools of Thought 35
Daoism 36
Popular Religions 39
Confucianism 40
Mohism 46
Legalism 48
Book of Odes and Book of Documents 51
Secularization of Arts 53
Note 55
Further Reading 55
3 The First Chinese Empires, 221 BCE220 CE 56
Development of the Qin State 58
Qin Achievements 60
Failures of the Qin 63
Han and New Institutions 66
Han Foreign Relations 70
Emperor Wu's Domestic Policies and Their Ramifications 75
Wang Mang: Reformer or Usurper? 77
Restoration of a Weaker Han Dynasty 78
Spiritual and Philosophical Developments in the Han 81
Han Literature and Art 85
Further Reading 92
4 Chaos and Religious and Political Responses, 220581 93
Three Kingdoms 93
Rise of South China 95
Foreigners and North China 97
Northern Wei 100
Spiritual Developments, Post-Han 104
Buddhism Enters China 105
Literature, Science, and the Arts in a Period of Division 111
Note 115
Further Reading 116
Part II China Among Equals 117
5 Restoration of Empire under Sui and Tang, 581907 119
Sui: First Step in Restoration 121
Disastrous Foreign Campaigns 126
Origins of the Tang 127
Taizong: The Greatest Tang Emperor 128
Tang Expansionism 131
Irregular Successions and the Empress Wu 133
Tang Cosmopolitanism 136
Arrival of Foreign Religions 138
Glorious Tang Arts 144
Decline of the Tang 146
Tang Faces Rebellions 150
Uyghur Empire and Tang 151
Tang's Continuing Decline 152
Suppression of Buddhism 155
Final Collapse 156
Efflorescence of Tang Culture 159…