Foundations of World History: Ancient China

The Chinese empire spanned more than two thousand years, providing the world with many important inventions and influential philosophies. Through thoughtful narrative supported by fully documented quotes, this title begins with A Brief History of Ancient China and then examines these questions: How Important Was the Great Wall in the Development of Ancient Chinese Civilization? What Effect Did Confucianism Have on the Chinese Moral and Political Outlook? How Did the Chinese Invention of Gunpowder Affect Warfare in the World? How Did the Silk Road Link China with the Rest of the World?

This authoritative volume examines the two main faiths, Confucianism and Daoism, that developed before China had meaningful contact with the rest of the world. Aspects of Buddhism later joined features of these faiths to form elements of Chinese ideology

In ancient China, the preparation of food and the offering up of food as a religious sacrifice were intimately connected with models of sagehood and ideas of self-cultivation and morality. Drawing on received and newly excavated written sources, Roel Sterckx's book explores how this vibrant culture influenced the ways in which the early Chinese explained the workings of the human senses, and the role of sensory experience in communicating with the spirit world. The book, which begins with a survey of dietary culture from the Zhou to the Han and offers some intriguing insights into the ritual preparation of food - some butchers and cooks were highly regarded and would rise to positions of influence as a result of their culinary skills - and the sacrificial ceremony itself. As a major contribution to the study of early China and to the development of philosophical thought, the book will be essential reading for students of the period, and for anyone interested in ritual and religion in the ancient world.

Featuring full-color photographs and maps, summaries of key people and key sites, primary source documents, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and further resources, Empires of Ancient China discusses the philosophical traditions of Confucianism, Daoism, and Chinese Buddhism; the imperial bureaucracy and civil service system; art, culture, and science; as well as the many inventions that originated here, from paper to printing to gun powder.

Many millennia ago, Ancient China was a leader of technological development. It is responsible for producing some of the world's first paper, as well as the art of calligraphy. That is not all, however. This book delves into the history of Ancient China and describes other great innovations for which the culture is known.

This text illuminates the evolution of the military art in China with reference to ten battles, spanning more than 2,000 years, from the Battle of Mu in 1027BC to the Fall of Chung Tu in 1215 AD. Selected both for their historical importance and for the light which they shed on weapons and tactics, the author uses these examples to discuss the many myths still current in the West about ancient Chinese warfare: for example that the Chinese were an unwarlike people, always preferring subterfuge over the use of force; or that they were essentially defensive minded, relying on works such as the Great Wall. On the other hand, a recent reaction to this dismissive attitude portrays China as technologically far in advance of the West. Battles of Ancient China shows that none of these stereotypes are accurate.

This pioneering book provides a comprehensive survey of ancient Chinese women's history, covering thousands of years from the Neolithic era to China's unification in 221 BCE. For each period--Neolithic, Shang, Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou--Bret Hinsch explores central aspects of female life: marriage, family life, politics, ritual, and religious roles. Deeply researched, the book draws on a wide range of Chinese scholarship and primary sources, including transmitted texts, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence. The result is a comprehensive view of women's history from the beginnings of Chinese civilization up to the beginnings of the imperial era. Clear and readable, the book will be invaluable for both students and specialists in gender studies.