China's ancestors lived in the North Temperate Zone in East Asia, nurturing an agriculture-dominant economy. They entered into the threshold of civilization from a stable agriculture community in ancient times, and the clan chiefs transformed into a new ruling class centralizing diverse powers. Thus, the kindred ties and state administrative system fused into an underlying structure of the society, resulting in a trend of inward concentration, human relations, community living and power centralization.

China is one of the earliest ancient civilizations in the world. Chinese civilization is the only ancient civilization in human history without any interruption. This book outlines the development trajectory of Chinese history, represents the demeanor and characteristics of Chinese civilization and interprets the secrecy of the continuity and rejuvenation of the densely populated ancient civilization after several thousand years of vicissitudes.

Preface

The Origin of Chinese Culture

The Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties: Early States and Bronze Civilization

The Spring & Autumn and Warring States Periods: Vassals Contend for Hegemony and Social Reform

Qin and Han Dynasties: Establishment and Development of a Great Unified Country

Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties: Regime Division and Ethnic Concentration

Sui and Tang Dynasties: a Prosperous and Open Age

Song and Yuan Dynasties: Diverse Cultural Collisions and Great Socio-economic Development

Ming and Qing Dynasties (before the Opium War): Prosperity of Farming Civilization and Crisis before Modern Times

Fall and Struggle of Modern China

Exploration Progress of the People's Republic of China for Socialist Modernization