The Cambridge history of ancient China : from the origins of civilization to 221 B.C

The Cambridge History of Ancient China provides a survey of the cultural history of pre-imperial China. Fourteen leading specialists on early Chinese history and archaeology cover more than one thousand years. There are two chapters for each time-period - Shang, Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States: one on institutional history, based on both traditional and palaeographic literature, and one on material culture, based on archaeological evidence. There are also chapters on the Neolithic background, language, intellectual history, relations with Central Asia, and the debts of both the Qin and Han empires to these earlier time-periods. Although written by specialists, this Cambridge history aims to explain and describe pre-imperial China to an audience that will include scholars and students, as well as general readers without specialized knowledge of Chinese history. It can be consulted as a work of reference, or read continuously, alone or as part of The Cambridge History of China series. Introduction.......... 1-36 1 - China on the Eve of the Historical Period.......... 37-73 2 - Language and Writing.......... 74-123 3 - Shang Archaeology.......... 124-231 4 - The Shang: China’s First Historical Dynasty.......... 232-291 5 - Western Zhou History.......... 292-351 6 - Western Zhou Archaeology.......... 352-449 7 - The Waning of the Bronze Age: Material Culture and Social Developments, 770–481 B.C........... 450-544 8 - The Spring and Autumn Period.......... 545-586 9 - Warring States Political History.......... 587-650 10 - The Art and Architecture of the Warring States Period.......... 651-744 11 - The Classical Philosophical Writings.......... 745-812 12 - Warring States Natural Philosophy and Occult Thought.......... 813-884 13 - The Northern Frontier in Pre–Imperial China.......... 885-966 14 - The Heritage Left to the Empires.......... 967-1032 Bibliography.......... 1033-1112 Index.......... 1113-1148 Map 1: Topography of China" Map 6.1: Archaeological sites of the Western Zhou period." Map 3.1: Archaeological sites of the Early Bronze Age"

The Cambridge History of Ancient China provides a survey of the cultural, intellectual, political, and institutional developments of the pre-imperial period. The four subperiods of Shang, Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States, are described on the basis of literary and material sources and the evidence of recently found manuscripts. Chapters on the prehistoric background, the growth of language, and relations with the peoples of Central Asia provide the major context of China's achievements in the 1,500 years under review. The teachings of China's early masters are set alongside what is known of the methods of astonomers, physicians and diviners. A final chapter leads the reader forward to imperial times, as described in the volumes of The Cambridge History of China.

Provides a survey of the cultural history of pre-imperial China. Features articles by specialists on early Chinese history and archaeology with two chapters for each time-period, Shang, Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States, one on institutional history, based on both traditional and palaeographic literature, and one on material culture, based on archaeological evidence. Also includes chapters on the Neolithic background, language, intellectual history, relations with Central Asia, and the debts of both the Qin and Han empires to these earlier time-periods This book provides a survey of the cultural, intellectual, political, and institutional developments of the pre-imperial period. Chapters on the prehistoric background, the growth of language, and relations with the peoples of Central Asia provide the major context of China's achievements in the 1,500 years under review. The teachings of China's early masters are set alongside what is known of the methods of astronomers, physicians and diviners. A final chapter leads the reader forward to imperial times, as described in the volumes of The Cambridge History of China. This survey of the cultural history of pre-imperial China covers over 1000 years, giving 2 chapters for each time period included. Scholars, students and general readers with no special knowledge of Chinese history will be interested in this book "In The Cambridge History of Ancient China, fourteen leading scholars provide a survey of the cultural, intellectual, political, and institutional developments of pre-imperial China (from the beginnings of civilization to 221 B.C.)."--Jacket