China Modern History

Let’s take a look at the past 120 years of Chinese history, from the country’s start as a backward, struggling empire in the late 19th century to a totalitarian communist superpower.

The history of China is as rich and strange as that of any country on earth. Yet for many, China’s history remains unknown, or known only through the stylized images that generations in the West have cherished or reviled as truth. With his command of character and event - the product of 30 years of research and reflection in the field - Spence dispels those myths in a powerful narrative. Over four centuries of Chinese history, Spence fashions the astonishing story of the effort to achieve a modern China.

From kung-fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, sages to silk, China has influenced cuisine, commerce, military strategy, aesthetics, and philosophy across the world for thousands of years. Chinese history is nothing if not messy. Heroes are also villains; prosperity mingles with violence; cultural vibrancy coexists with censorship and repression. Modern China is seen variously as an economic powerhouse, an icon of urbanization, a propaganda state, and an aggressive superpower seeking world domination.

China today is never out of the news: from international finance to human rights controversies, global coverage of its rising international presence, and the Chinese "economic miracle". It seems to be a country of contradictions: a peasant society with some of the world's most futuristic cities, heir to an ancient civilization that is still trying to find a modern identity. This Very Short Introduction audiobook offers the listener an entry to understanding the world's most populous nation, giving an integrated picture of modern Chinese society, culture, economy, politics, and art.

The internationally bestselling author of Who Cooked the Last Supper? presents a wickedly witty and very current history of the extraordinary female rebels, reactionaries, and trailblazers who left their mark on history from the French Revolution up to the present day. Now is the time for a...

While there are many books that explore China’s history, public knowledge is still lacking. Many people can name more than one Roman Emperor, but how many can name a Chinese Emperor?

In the treacherous waters of the Taiwan Strait, the fate of freedom and trade hangs in the balance. As the world watches with bated breath, one question looms large: can China successfully invade Taiwan? The answer lies in the uncharted waters of military history, where the tides of war have shaped the destiny of nations. From D-Day to today's digital deterrence, amphibious assault is usually bloody. Why China CANNOT Invade Taiwan. examines this vital military tactic through history, exploring its evolution alongside the unique challenges posed by Taiwan's strategic location in the Pacific ...

The Mao Zedong Reader: How to Understand Chinese Ideology to Improve Foreign Policy and Relations with China Edited by Eric Engle For the first time, a comprehensive collection of Mao Zedong's most important writings is available in a single volume. The Mao Zedong Reader is the definitive guide to understanding the ideology that shaped modern China and continues to influence its foreign policy today. With a wide-ranging selection of Mao's writings, from his early revolutionary days to his later years as China's leader, this book provides a nuanced and balanced view of his thought. Dr. Eric ...

A New York Times Notable Book Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908) is the most important woman in Chinese history. She ruled China for decades and brought a medieval empire into the modern age. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, Cixi was chosen as one of the...

Discover the Epic Story of China: A Concise History from Ancient Dynasties to Modern Superpower! Quickly learn the fundamental facts of China with a fun and user-friendly experience! Embark on the exhilarating journey through the vast expanse of Chinese history! From the myths and legends of the Xia Dynasty, to the vibrant new era of the new happy China, this concise and engaging guide is meticulously designed for students, businessmen, diplomats, and analysts. This book gives you a comprehensive and thorough overview of China's rich cultural heritage, political transformations, and ...

Half a century after Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the Moon, a new race has begun—one unlike any before it. This time, it’s not just nations competing for glory, but a mix of powerful space agencies, private companies, and visionary billionaires all determined to plant their flags on the next frontier. Back To The Moon takes readers inside the modern space race, from NASA’s bold Artemis missions to China’s lunar ambitions, India’s historic breakthroughs, and SpaceX’s revolutionary rockets. It explores the technology, politics, and people driving humanity’s ...

"In vivid detail... examines the little-known history of two extraordinary dynasties."--The Boston Globe "Not just a brilliant, well-researched, and highly readable book about China's past, it also reveals the contingencies and ironic twists of fate in China's modern history."--LA Review of...

Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture illustrates how the spaces between tiles and the moments between games have fostered distinct social cultures in the United States. This mass-produced game crossed the Pacific, creating waves of popularity over the 20th century. Annelise Heinz narrates the history of this game to show how it has created a variety of meanings, among them American modernity, Chinese American heritage, and Jewish American women's culture.

Decode the Secrets of China's Global Strategy —Before It's Too Late!China’s growing influence is reshaping global power dynamics—are you ready to figure out China's next moves? China's New Client States? explores the historical foundations and modern applications of China’s foreign policy. From the ancient tributary system to the Belt and Road Initiative, this book reveals how China builds alliances, exerts influence, and challenges Western dominance. This fascinating and insightful book that digs into the historical roots of China's diplomatic strategies, revealing the principles ...

A deeply original exploration of the power of spontaneity—an ancient Chinese ideal that cognitive scientists are only now beginning to understand—and why it is so essential to our well-being Why is it always hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and...

Here is a fascinating compact history of Chinese political, economic, and cultural life, ranging from the origins of civilization in China to the beginning of the 21st century. Historian Paul Ropp combines vivid story-telling with astute analysis to shed light on some of the larger questions of Chinese history. Offering a global perspective, the book tells how China's nomadic neighbors to the north and west influenced much of the political, military, and even cultural history of China.

What does it take to reinvent a language? After a meteoric rise, China today is one of the world’s most powerful nations. Just a century ago, it was a crumbling empire with literacy reserved for the elite few, as the world underwent a massive technological transformation that threatened to...

This global history as the Chinese would write it gives brilliant and unconventional insights for understanding China's role in the world, especially the drive to "Make China Great Again." We in the West routinely ask: "What does China want?" The answer is quite simple: the superpower status it...

Weijian Shan's Out of the Gobi is a powerful memoir and commentary that will be one of the most important books on China of our time, one with the potential to re-shape how Americans view China, and how the Chinese view life in America. Shan, a former hard laborer who is now one of Asia's best-known financiers, is thoughtful, observant, eloquent, and brutally honest, making him well-positioned to tell the story of a life that is a microcosm of modern China, and of how, improbably, that life became intertwined with America.

Harry S. Dent Jr., bestselling author of The Demographic Cliff and The Sale of a Lifetime, predicted the populist wave that has driven the Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump, and other recent shocks around the world. Now he returns with the definitive guide to protect your investments and...