A short history of Asia / Colin Mason.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mason, Colin, 1926-2020, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Asia--Civilization.

Asia.

Civilization.

Asia--History.

History.

Physical Description:

vii, 350 pages : maps ; 22 cm

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

Summary:

The nations of Asia now make up more than half of the world's population. With increasingly affluent, educated middle classes and vigorous, innovative industries, they are more populous and powerful than ever before, and their influence on the rest or the world is only growing. Colin Mason provides a clear, readable introduction to their histories and traditions, from the Stone Age right up to the present day. This thoroughly revised, updated and expanded third edition contains new chapters on Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan, separate expanded chapters on the South Asian nations, and revised chapters on all the modern states. A new introduction explores the nature and implications of the new politics of 'guided democracy', and the current clash between industrialization and the consequences of climate change. Enriched with maps and a guide to further reading, this book is the essential guide to the history of a fascinating continent and its peoples. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

Part I Before Imperialism

2 Prehistory and the First Indian Civilizations 15

3 The Development of Indian Culture: Hinduism and Buddhism 24

4 Early South-east Asia: the Ships from India 31

5 China: the Eternal Nation 42

6 Early Japan and the Tang Dynasty in China 57

7 The Awakening of Europe and the Challenge of Islam 68

8 Flood Tide in China: the Song, Mongol and Ming Dynasties 72

9 China: Ebb Tide 82

10 The Three Makers of Japan and the Tokugawa Period 91

Part II The 'White Man's Burden'

11 The Dominators and the Dominated 105

12 South-east Asia: the European and Chinese Impacts 111

13 The Malay World: Majapahit and Malacca 123

14 Indonesia: the Last Independent Kingdoms and the Extension of Dutch Rule 128

15 India under Two Masters: the Grand Moguls and the East India Company 136

16 Gandhi's India: the Struggle for Liberty 149

Part III The Modern Nations

17 The Second World War and the End of Empire 159

18 South Asia: Freedom and Poverty 164

19 India 168

20 Pakistan 179

21 Bangladesh 187

22 Afghanistan 193

23 The Mountain States: Nepal and Bhutan 199

24 Sri Lanka 208

25 China: Two Revolutions 213

26 Modern China: the Communist State 219

27 Taiwan: Chinese or Not? 233

28 Mongolia 237

29 Indonesia and Timor-Leste 242

30 Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 254

31 Japan: the Iron Triangle 266

32 Thailand: Two Hats - the Struggle for Democracy 277

33 The Philippines: Trouble in Paradise 285

34 Korea: Divided Nation 294 Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 306

36 Burma: Rule by the Gun 320

37 The Asian Century? 328.

Notes:

Previous edition: 2005.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781137340597

1137340592

1137340606

9781137340603

OCLC:

879399170