This book reinterprets the rise of consumerism in terms of interaction between Europe and China 1400-1800. In particular, it examines the intellectual foundations of consumerism in food, dress, shelter, utilities, information and symbolism. It highlights consumerism as an expression of both rationality and freedom and indicates the constructive role it has played in the formation of the modern world. Particular use is made of comparisons between developments in Europe and China to differentiate both.

This new edition provides a new preface to this highly popular book. The theme of the book is China's relations with the non-Chinese world, not only political and economic, but cultural, social and technological as well. It seeks to show that China's history is part of everyone's history. In particular it traces China's relationship since the thirteenth century to the emergent world order and the various world institutions of which that order is comprised. Each chapter discusses China's comparative place in the world, the avenues of contact between China and other civilizations, and who and...

this book presents a picture focused on the T'ang period, one of China's acknowledged golden ages. Within a looser web of globalization, the T'ang period and its dynamics offers a distant mirror of our own time. An argument in world history may thus cast light on issues in contemporary politics.

this book presents a picture focused on the T'ang period, one of China's acknowledged golden ages. Within a looser web of globalization, the T'ang period and its dynamics offers a distant mirror of our own time. An argument in world history may thus cast light on issues in contemporary politics.