Description

As China - the oldest continuous civilization in existence today - stands to become the most influential, with its economy expected to exceed that of the United States by 2020, Arthur Cotterell provides a panoramic sweep of an empire that lasted over two millennia through the imperial capitals that were the very foundations of each dynasty. Using original Chinese sources and eye witness accounts he provides an inside view of the rich array of characters, political and ideological tensions, and technological genius that defined the imperial capitals of China, as each in turn is revealed, explored and celebrated. From the cosmological foundations of the first capital to the politics of empire and cataclysmic civil wars, this absorbing new book offers a level of insight indispensible for a true understanding of China today. Praise for China: A History A knowledge and comprehensive survey... Both scholarly and readable, it brings each era to life.' Sunday Times 'A thorough, popular survey of Chinese civilisation from Peking Man to Deng Xiaoping. To cover such a large subject in a balanced way is a daunting task and Cotterell has acquitted himself well.' Times Higher Educational Supplement

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