A History of China

Wolfram Eberhard

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9780520359970
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520313415
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Chinese History
• Index: History

A History of China is a groundbreaking synthesis that seeks to illuminate the rich and complex evolution of Chinese civilization while clearing away myths and misconceptions perpetuated by past historical narratives. Unlike works that focus solely on glorifying or condemning China's past, this book adopts a balanced approach, emphasizing the achievements and forces that shaped China's development. It offers a comprehensive view of China's history, focusing not just on dynastic successions or famous figures but on the interplay of social, cultural, and external influences that have defined its trajectory. By incorporating archaeological findings, anthropological insights, and contemporary research from Chinese, Japanese, and Western scholars, the book reinterprets China's historical record. It highlights the dynamic interactions between China and its neighbors—Turks, Mongols, Tibetans, and others—emphasizing mutual influences rather than simplistic narratives of a "barbarian" periphery. Organized into three broad periods—Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and Modern Times—the book seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of China's historical processes. Aimed at general readers, it also offers references for further exploration, encouraging a deeper appreciation of China's profound and multifaceted legacy. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1969.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS 1
• INTRODUCTION
• THE EARLIEST TIMES
• Chapter One PREHISTORY
• ANTIQUITY
• Chapter Three THE CHOU DYNASTY (c. 1028-257 B.C.)
• Chapter Four THE CONTENDING STATES (481-256 B.c.): DISSOLUTION OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM
• Chapter Five THE CH’IN DYNASTY (256-207 B.C.)
• THE MIDDLE AGES
• Chapter Six THE HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C.-A.D. 220)
• Chapter Seven THE EPOCH OF THE FIRST DIVISION OF CHINA (A.D. 220-580)
• (B) The Western Chin dynasty (A.D. 265-317)
• Chapter Eight THE EMPIRES OF THE SUI AND THE T’ANG
• MODERN TIMES
• Chapter Nine THE EPOCH OF THE SECOND DIVISION OF CHINA
• Chapter Ten THE PERIOD OF ABSOLUTISM
• Chapter Eleven THE REPUBLIC (1912-1948)
• Chapter Twelve PRESENT-DAY CHINA
• NOTES AND REFERENCES
• INDEX