'I have used the Cambridge Illustrated History of China in my survey course on Chinese history since the first edition, and by now have taught nearly 2,000 Penn students with it. This latest edition is the best yet: not just updated but reconceptualized from start to finish, and with more visual sources than ever. You simply cannot beat the combination that Patricia B. Ebrey offers: a clear and authoritative narrative, amply supported by quotations from primary sources, with maps and illustrations on virtually every page. It is remarkable for a single author to be able to tell the story of China's history, from the Stone Age to Xi Jinping, in one earnest but readable volume.' Paul R. Goldin, University of Pennsylvania
1. The Origins of Chinese Civilization: Neolithic Period to the Western Zhou Dynasty; 2. Philosophical Foundations: The Eastern Zhou Period; 3. The Creation of the Bureaucratic Empire: The Qin and Han Dynasties; 4. Regional Regimes: Buddhism, Aristocracy, and Northern Rulers; 5. A Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty; 6. Shifting South: The Five Dynasties and Song; 7. Inner Asian Rule: The Liao, Xi Xia, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties; 8. The Limits of Autocracy: The Ming Dynasty; 9. Manchus and Imperial Expansion: The Early Qing Dynasty; 10. Decline Sets In: The Late Qing Dynasty; 11. Taking Action: The Early Twentieth Century; 12. China Under Mao: The People's Republic; 13. Engaging the World: China Since 1976.