China: A History (Volume 1): From Neolithic Cultures through the Great Qing Empire, (10,000 BCE – 1799 CE) by Harold M. Tanner (PDF)

Description

Available in one or two volumes, this accessible, yet rigorous, introduction to the political, social, and cultural history of China provides a balanced and thoughtful account of the development of Chinese civilization from its beginnings to the present day.Each volume includes ample illustrations, a full complement of maps, a chronological table, extensive notes, recommendations for further reading and an index.Volume 1: From Neolithic Cultures through the Great Qing Empire (10,000 BCE―1799). Volume 2: From the Great Qing Empire through the People’s Republic of China (1644―2009).

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review A solid, clearly written and up-to-date account of China’s dynastic history, taking note of recent research, and with attention to cultural developments and economic practice. An accessible read, even for first-comers to this highly complex subject; this is an excellent introduction to China that instructors will welcome and students will enjoy. –Michael Loewe, University Lecturer in Chinese Studies, University of Cambridge 1963-1990; Emeritus Fellow of Clare Hall.Tanner has written an excellent text on Chinese history which offers a fine balance between the traditional and the modern. He also charts a good balance between studies of the elite, government, philosophy and diplomacy and, on the other hand, analyses of ordinary people, economic institutions, social patterns, and folk religion. The book provides a comprehensive view of Chinese culture, including developments in literature and the arts. A generous selection of illustrations facilitates comprehension of and pleasure in the visual arts. Finally, Professor Tanner’s consideration of Western contact with China and the attendant problems and gains is judicious and informative. –Morris Rossabi, Distinguished Professor of History, City University of New York . . . . Tanner writes attractively . . . . He tells many stories of villains and heroes, of tragedy and comedy, of high culture and coarse humour, of wealth and poverty, of feast and famine, of poignant suffering, all of which keep the reader’s interest and indeed fascination. It is a heroic tale that he tells and he does this superbly, rejecting myths and misunderstandings that have beset Western views of a complex country. –G.R. Batho, The Historical Association Reviews About the Author Harold M. Tanner is Professor of History at the University of North Texas.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Remarkably poorly written. It seems like the author doesn’t expect the reader to be able to follow any kind of red thread, so he’s resorted to just loosely listing factoids. Or maybe he just has a poor grasp of structure. I’ll give an example that illustrates this while also being typical: the subchapter on Shang religion.It starts with describing a burial, but immediately veers into meticulous details (564 items of carved bone) without any pointers as to the significance of said details. Then how bronzes were cast specially for burials, and then in the same paragraph that the Shang believed in a multitude of spirits, then some facts about their supreme deity. Then on to sacrifice to the gods, then back to burials and the layout of the tombs, then back to sacrifices (in the tombs). Then this gem, typical of the style: “As described above, the Shang elite continued to honor their ancestors with rituals and sacrifices and to seek understanding of the causes of good and bad fortune and and the possible course of future events through divination”. That’s the intro to divination. An example is given. The author then digresses about how male children were preferred and would be throughout Chinese history. Then he lists three unrelated Shang cultural elements that would outlive the Shang. The end.Bear in mind that Shang divination got a much fuller description a few pages before this, in the subchapter “Shang culture and society”…you could probably make a drinking game out of this book, where you read a paragraph and have people guess what the heading is. You’d get very drunk.The text never goes beyond dry presentation of facts. Well, even that is generous, as it also often shyes clear of concluding on historical controversies,and instead just resorts to weasel language like “many say that…” or “some say that…”. This includes cases where “many” are just plain wrong, the most glaring example being the claim that the Chinese are descended from Chinese Homo Erectus. Can we all just agree that we’re descended from African Homo Sapiens?The prehistory chapter does nothing to give a proper context in terms of Asian history or technology, and doesn’t even try to produce a mental image of life as it was lived.I could go on. I’ve never put away a properly researched non-fiction book, but this was unreadable.

⭐The book is very detailed but well written so that it is not too boring. A good read for a history book.

⭐This was everything I wanted it to be. The book is perfect for someone like me who is not looking to earn a doctorate in Chinese history but gain a fundamental understanding of the history of the nation. I highly recommend this two part series.

⭐This book was truly an excellent overview of Chinese history up to about 1800 and I’m looking forward to reading the second volume. My only complaint is that it was a bit dry, discussion massacres of thousands of people in the same tone as literary accomplishments. You have to read it very closely to pick out the drama, of which there has been tons in the history of China. On the other hand, it tried hard to be very even handed and was quite up front about it. I’m more likely to go back and read more specific colorful histories now that I have the overall outline of what happened.

⭐I finished the book on one long week-end vacation trip because it was both efficiently informative and made for enjoyable reading. It covered a lot of ground without being sketchy or polemic. If I were going to read only one book on the history of China, this would be it.

⭐This is my first book about Chinese history. It pretty much covers everything from the stone age all the way up until the 1800’s. I haven’t finished it yet (about 85%) but I have already learned quite a bit about Chinese history and culture. It’s a little difficult to follow everything however since there is just so much history, and the fact that its hard to remember Chinese names and locations (for me at least). I plan on purchasing the next book that continues from the 1800’s to the present day after I’m done reading this book.

⭐Neolithic and prehistory were cut short. That is to be expected in a book on history rather than paleontology. But still interesting.

⭐A little outdated but I needed it for class. He goes through the standard view of classical Chinese history which doesn’t hold water anymore.

⭐This book gave me knowlege I will appreciate about this FANTASTIC Country and its people I did not even think to consider. The History of agriculture for example is 10,000 years old. 8,000 BCE WOW.This book is packed with stories you will appreciate.

⭐This is a great work that I found very handy in my studies on Chinese history. I own other books that cover specific era in more detail, but this provides an interesting perspective and a complete overview. I highly recommend it!

⭐I have not finished it. The detail is amazing, a very good buy.

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