A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

17695

Title

A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A definitive historical synthesis by Wolfram Eberhard that moves beyond dynastic lists to reveal the underlying social, economic, and cultural forces shaping China. This revised edition offers a balanced, evidence-based perspective on the nation's evolution from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century.

Summary up to 500 words

Wolfram Eberhard's *A History of China* offers a sophisticated synthesis that challenges traditional narratives by integrating archaeological excavations with textual analysis. Moving beyond mere dynastic enumeration, the work reconstructs China's development from prehistoric cultures and the Shang dynasty through the feudal fragmentation of the Chou period, the unification under the Ch'in, and the cultural zeniths of the Han and Tang empires. Eberhard critically examines the profound impact of foreign influences, including the rise of Buddhism and the pressures exerted by nomadic empires like the Huns and Mongols. The narrative traverses turbulent periods of division, the foreign domination of the Yuan and early Ming, and the eventual rise of the Manchu Qing dynasty. It addresses the decline of the empire, the catastrophic Taiping Rebellion, and the collision with Western imperialism and Japan. Ultimately, the book provides a sociological framework for understanding how China transformed from a collection of petty states into a unified civilization. Eberhard argues that the Chinese race was not a monolithic entity but the result of a complex amalgamation of separate peoples. He dispels the notion that ancient records are objective histories, revealing them instead as texts designed to teach Confucian ethics. By extracting historical truth from these biased sources and utilizing ethnological research, the text illuminates the great forces governing human action in China. The work details the struggle between conservative gentry and reformers, the rise of a weak middle class, and the eventual necessity of modernization to prevent national subjugation. It covers the rivalry between European powers and Japan, the Boxer Rising, and the transition to the modern era, providing a comprehensive view of how China navigated internal reforms and external threats to reach the present day.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History