Lost Colony : The Untold Story of China's First Great Victory over the West / Tonio Andrade.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Andrade, Tonio, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Zheng, Chenggong, 1624-1662.

Zheng, Chenggong.

History, Modern--17th century.

History, Modern.

Taiwan--History--Dutch rule, 1624-1661.

Taiwan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (448 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2011]

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

During the seventeenth century, Holland created the world's most dynamic colonial empire, outcompeting the British and capturing Spanish and Portuguese colonies. Yet, in the Sino-Dutch War--Europe's first war with China--the Dutch met their match in a colorful Chinese warlord named Koxinga. Part samurai, part pirate, he led his generals to victory over the Dutch and captured one of their largest and richest colonies--Taiwan. How did he do it? Examining the strengths and weaknesses of European and Chinese military techniques during the period, Lost Colony provides a balanced new perspective on long-held assumptions about Western power, Chinese might, and the nature of war. It has traditionally been asserted that Europeans of the era possessed more advanced science, technology, and political structures than their Eastern counterparts, but historians have recently contested this view, arguing that many parts of Asia developed on pace with Europe until 1800. While Lost Colony shows that the Dutch did indeed possess a technological edge thanks to the Renaissance fort and the broadside sailing ship, that edge was neutralized by the formidable Chinese military leadership. Thanks to a rich heritage of ancient war wisdom, Koxinga and his generals outfoxed the Dutch at every turn. Exploring a period when the military balance between Europe and China was closer than at any other point in modern history, Lost Colony reassesses an important chapter in world history and offers valuable and surprising lessons for contemporary times.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

Dramatis Personae

Preamble

An Execution

One

Destinies Entwined

Pirate War

"War Is the Art of Deception"

The Wrath of Heaven

The Samurai

The General

The Sea King

Heaven Has Not Tired of Chaos on Earth

Two

An Extreme and Terrifying Storm

A Foggy Morning

Koxinga's Victories

Parleys and Capitulations

The Castle

An Assault

A Summer of Misery

Relief from the Sea

Three

The Fleet

A Foolish Attack

The Defectors

Koxinga Closes In

The Accidental Embassy

Acrimony

The Last Battle

Surrender

A Mad Death

Closing

Epilogues and Conclusions

Acknowledgments

Notes

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786613256058

9781283256056

1283256053

9781400839537

140083953X

OCLC:

757406029