Ancient China (DK Eyewitness Books) [Hardcover]

Arthur Cotterell (Author), Laura Buller (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2005 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: DK Eyewitness Books

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the history of the great Chinese empire and the customs and traditions of its people. Stunning real-life photographs and lifelike models offer a unique "eyewitness" view of life in imperial China, from its earliest beginnings in the Bronze Age to its final days in the early years of the 20th century. See the stunning bronze work of the ancient Chinese, an early irrigation machine, a set of antique acupuncture needles, the beautiful implements used for Chinese calligraphy. Learn why the First Emperor created the terra-cotta army, what kinds of goods were carried along the Silk Route, who invented paper, how a Chinese house was constructed, why tombs were filled with pottery figures, and what a civil servant's job entailed. Discover why emperors were known as Sons of Heaven, what kinds of weapons were used in early battles, why families worshiped their ancestors, how fishermen used bivas to catch fish, and much, much more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-10-Done in typical "Eyewitness" format, this volume touches upon such topics as Chinese history, the first emperor, inventions, health and medicine, waterways, food and drink, clothing, the Silk Road, and arts and crafts. Material from as recent as the last dynasty, which ended in 1911, is included; because all of the information is presented in double-page spreads, some cover extremely wide time frames. Reproductions of Chinese paintings and prints, while in full color, are sometimes so small as to be virtually useless. Confucianism is incorrectly called a religion; likewise the Great Wall is attributed to the first emperor rather than to Ming times. Given these limitations, the book will nonetheless be popular for browsing.
Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series] -- The New York Times

These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series] -- School Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (September 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756613825
• ISBN-13: 978-0756613822
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Children's Books > History > Asia
  • #23 in Books > Children's Books > History > Ancient

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!, January 14, 2002

By 

Marta A. (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eyewitness: Ancient China (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

Ancient China was the best book dealing with China that I have so far read. It was intriguing how I learned, saw, and discovered many things in only about 65 pages. The beautiful photography gave the words life. This book proves excellence truly exists and gives the word perfection an even greater new meaning.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient China, March 13, 2005

By 

T-Rex "Rex Sheng" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eyewitness: Ancient China (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

This book report is about the world's oldest continuous civilization called China. From 221 B.C to A.D 1912 in China was combined under a great and powerful empire called the Qin Empire. Ancient China was remained untouched because it was apart by the huge a scorching deserts, mountain ranges, and the ocean. It was cut off from other cultures such as India, West Asia, and Europe. China's social structure was a main role in maintaining its national stability. What also helped China together was a great philosopher named Confucius who encouraged people to lead an ordered family way of life. Once in a while the Chinese empire experienced short periods of unrest and disunity and attacks from foreigners. During those times they changed the governments and they built many innovations and technological advances such as gunpowder, paper, printing, and industrial machinery. The Chinese people still used the same customs and traditions and stayed remarkably to today.

The first dynasty to leave historical record was the Shang Dynasty. Their kings ruled the greater part of northern China from 1650 to 1027 B.C., where the soil was fertile and had enough water from the Yellow River. The ruler of the dynasty was a priest or known as the Son of Heaven. He had to believe that his empire has to maintain good relations between our world and heaven. The Shang Dynasty had many slaves, but they rely upon the labor of their rural population. The peasant farmers cultivated the soil and took parts hunting for food and served as soldiers in the army.

Confucius believed that the early years of the Zhou dynasty were golden years of social harmony. During his lifetime, he saw growing disorder and saw reducing power in the dynasty. This fight became more and more turmoil, which led Confucius to develop a moral outlook. It was based on happiness, respect for elders, and strength in the family. He had a saying that a good ruler should set an example by dealing with people. In return, the people had to respect and obey their emperor. Confucius also believed that different families should be governed by common family relationships with a stable society. After Confucius encouraged ancestor worship because it strengthened families. Then the Chinese came to see themselves as a part of a greater family.

For three centuries of war marked a decline of the Zhou dynasty. This dynasty became unstable, so in 481 B.C. China was separated into seven warring states. The battles became large in scale with crossbowmen, cavalry, armored infantry, and chariots. During the war many men were killed and wounded. In 260 B.C. Sun Zi, a writer, wrote the Art of War, the world's oldest military handbook, which gave nobles practice of warfare. Eventually the northwestern state of Qin was victorious and united the feuding lords under one empire. The military began to decline and the civil service grew in importance and Confucianism came in.

During the 250 years of the Chinese empire was occupied a non-Chinese people from the north of the Great Wall. China prospered for 150 years of Manchu, Qin, and different rulers who ruled China. For the first time Chinese technology fell behind and France, Russia, and Japan began to bully the Qin empire. In 1912, ancient China was brining to an end of 2000 years of imperial history.

I recommend this Eyewitness Book: Ancient China because if learning about China in history class it can help you a lot. It has many captions you can read from and learn more just by reading it and the pictures shows you many things what were like and different paintings and sculptures. So whoever likes this may be smarter because they might learn something.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid introduction to Ancient China for young readers, August 17, 2008

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eyewitness: Ancient China (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

The institutional review coming with this page says: "Grade 5-10-Done in typical "Eyewitness" format, this volume touches upon such topics as Chinese history, the first emperor, inventions, health and medicine, waterways, food and drink, clothing, the Silk Road, and arts and crafts. Material from as recent as the last dynasty, which ended in 1912, is included. . . ." That summarizes nicely--both the age group for whom this book is intended and for the wide range of issues considered.

As such, the book works pretty well. As with all in this series, it reminds one of the first couple phrases in some lines about the Platte River: "A mile wide, an inch deep. . . ." Lots of coverage but not a whole lot of depth. But for young readers, this is a fine work.

The work begins with a bit of history, from the origins of the Chinese civilization under its first rulers, to the creation (by force) of a unified empire under the Qin Dynasty (China, the name, comes from this dynastic term), to the full unfolding of the empire under the Ming Dynasty after the expulsion of the Mongols.

There follows a discussion of the first dynasty (Shang, from 1650 to 1027 BC), the importance and central views of Confucius, the first emperor of a united China (Zheng), the development of an early civil service.

Then, some of the artifacts of the culture--printing and books, medicine, agriculture, food and drink, housing, dress, and so on.

The book closes out with a discussion of "The Silk Road" (during which time trade flourished between China throughout Asia to Europe), ocean voyages (voyages to the Middle East, Africa, India, the great islands of the Indian Ocean), and the end of empire, with the final emperor being deposed in 1912.

Again, as with others in this series, you get rather shallow coverage--but the illustrations are great and the amount of information provided really lined up with the age group targeted.