Macmillan Essential Histories: History of China (PDF)

J. A. G. Roberts offers a clear account of China's history for both students and general readers. A History China spans the whole timeframe of the world's longest civilization, from prehistory and the empire to the Communist revolution and the dramatic economic rise of today's China. This long and complex history is presented in a clear and approachable style. Each chapter deals with a key period, summarizing the most significant developments and identifying the main themes. This new edition, thoroughly revised and updated in the light of the latest research, begins with a discussion of recent archaeological discoveries and how these have altered our understanding of China's early history. There follow chapters on China's imperial history which incorporate new scholarship on topics such as the position of women in Chinese society, China's relationship with inner Asia and the explanations advanced for China's failure to industrialize at a much earlier date. The modern period is well covered with reference to the Opium Wars and the impact of Western imperialism, the 1911 Revolution, the Republican period and the Communist victory.Concluding with a critical assessment of the progress of China under Communist rule, this is an up-to-date and authoritative overview of China's past at the moment when China is emerging as, arguably, the great power of the twenty-first century.