The open empire : a history of China to 1800 / Valerie Hansen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hansen, Valerie, 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--History--To 221 B.C.

China.

History.

China--History--221 B.C.-960 A.D.

China--History--960-1644.

China--History--1644-1795.

Physical Description:

xvii, 478 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 2015.

Summary:

An innovative approach to early Chinese history, now updated and expanded up to 1800. The Open Empire takes an integrative, thematic approach to early Chinese history, using the concept of the "open empire" to highlight the dynamic, porous nature of China's past. Threaded throughout its chronological discussion of dynasties are discussions of the broad social and cultural changes that transcend them. Building from a wide variety of sources, archeological and literary. Hansen fleshes out the details of daily life, family relations, and social hierarchies. Peopling the pages are nobles, peasants, women, students, writers, and rebels-all offering their own distinct and colorful perspective. In the Second Edition, Hansen updated the narrative with evidence from recent scholarship, including new archeological findings. The text has been streamlined throughout to more clearly draw out the main themes, and a new chapter on the Qing Empire, 1600-1800, carries the story of the "open empire" up to the birth of modern China. Book jacket.

Contents:

The use of Pinyin

Part I. Inventing China (ca. 1500 B.C.E.-200 C.E.)

The beginnings of the written record

The age of the warrior and the thinker : Double Ears and Confucius (770 B.C.E.-221 B.C.E.)

The creation of empire (221 B.C.E.-200 C.E.)

Part II. Facing west (C.E. 200-1000)

China's religious landscape (200-600)

China's golden age (589-755)

The An Lushan Rebellion and its aftermath (755-960)

Part III. Facing north (1000-1600)

Coming to terms with money : the Song Dynasty (960-1276)

The northern dynasties : non-Chinese rule in North China (907-1215)

The Mongols (ca. 1200-1368)

Continuing the war against the Mongols : the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

The Qing empire (1636-1800)

Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780393938777

0393938778

OCLC:

901374285