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

Titel
A History of China
EAN
9781119604211
Format
E-Book (pdf)
Veröffentlichung
25.02.2021
Digitaler Kopierschutz
Adobe-DRM
Dateigrösse
12.43 MB
Anzahl Seiten
432