A Brief History of China

For three and a half thousand years, China has consistently occupied a crucial place in world politics, economy, and culture. Despite the seemingly monolithic and stable nature of the Chinese state, its history is in fact turbulent and contradictory: times of peace and tranquility were rapidly replaced by periods of war and famine, creativity and cultural life flourished against a backdrop of censorship and repression, and the country was governed by various peoples. Linda Javan shows China in all its diversity, painting a vivid and captivating picture of its rich past from semi-mythical origins in ancient times to the new era of Xi Jinping and the coronavirus pandemic. «Many historical events in China and their participants are full of contradictions. Confucius encouraged moderation in all things and a strict social hierarchy. Did his ideas ensure the stability and coherence of Chinese civilization, or did they hold China back from progressing? I will try to honestly depict or, at least, note the existence of various viewpoints on this and other questions. Some readers may find this accusatory or politically uncomfortable. But I will adhere to historical truth — as far as I understand it». (Linda Javan)