China: A Global Studies Handbook [Hardcover]

Complete ready reference covering Chinese history, economics, politics, culture, and prevalent social problems & a must-have addition to any global studies collection.

Throughout its imperial golden ages, China was the world's most developed nation, home to advanced technologies, a robust economy, and thriving cities. Its thousands of years of cultural and artistic achievements combined with its vastness and ethnic complexity have made China both fascinating and forbidding for those encountering it for the first time.

This new volume offers readers a concise, single-stop introduction to Chinese history, culture, economics, politics, and social issues. As they trace China's history from the creation stories of ancient Chinese myths to the Communist upheaval of the 20th century, readers will learn how the country has changedand not changedfrom early to modern times, and what life throughout China is like today.

The authors of this book have succeeded admirably in writing a lively and engaging introduction to some of the most prominent themes and issues that have marked China's history . . . the book is particularly effective in explaining various aspects of Chinese culture . . . it is strongly recommended as a valuable addition to the general collections of public, college, and undergraduate libraries. Reference & User Services Quarterly

This is an easy-to-read resource on an essential topic. Knowledge of China is important as it becomes more and more accessible, and what happens anywhere affects everywhere . . . This work combines expertise on history and economics with exposure to changing, contemporary social mores. American Reference Books Annual