The History of China

The history of China is over three thousand years of continuous development. During this time, many states have arisen and fallen on the banks of the Yellow River, countless wars have begun and ended, and an imperial system of governance has been established, along with philosophical teachings that have defined concepts of power, society, and humanity for centuries. This book sequentially narrates the main stages of the development of Chinese civilization—from the Shang and Zhou states to the modern People’s Republic of China. You will learn how the unification of the country occurred during the Qin dynasty, what role Confucius, Laozi, and Legalists played in Chinese history, how the famous Chinese civil service system evolved, and what changes the Mongol conquest, the Silk Road, and the founding of the PRC brought to world history. The book explains the most important events, concepts, and historical processes, helping to reveal the internal logic of the development of the Chinese state and culture. It allows us to understand how the traditions of ancient China continue to influence the life of the country in the 21st century and why knowledge of Chinese history is so important now for understanding the modern world.