China: A History Kindle Edition

Wow, I love this book, but I definitely recommend getting it in paperback or Hardcover. Though this is an overwhelming subject, Keay has shaped the narrative in such a way that a new student to China has a foothold and the stories are amazing, The maps are important to see to connect this complex country, and I didn't realize that there were photographs to underscore the detail until I ordered a used copy to support my Kindle copy. There just are books that should not be read on the Kindle.

The history of China is complex. John Keay gives an overview of China and its rich history starting from before the country was unified under the Qin and up until modern times excluding the Communist party from the second half of the 20th century. There is of course a lot to try to convey in this 3000 year period but the author does well to give the reader an overview of both the history and evolution that China has witnessed. Having grown up with an absence of books on China's entire history this is a good addition to the literature for a wide audience.

The author begins with some of the earliest records of China starting before 1000 BC but quickly gets into the period of warring states and the unification and beginning of the Qin dynasty. The author gives all the background needed to understand how later conflicts reference back to the early conflicts faced in China. The author gives the reader a brief picture of the world Confucius lived in and the philosophy he created that was probably the strongest current in Chinese government through its history. The book details the dynasties and the philosophies that drove each age. It also discusses how dynastic transitions were described by Chinese historians as the legitimate passing of the mandate of heaven on as rulers failed in their duties. The author gives an overview of all the major dynasties and in particular he focuses on the Han dynasty which is often seen as the golden age where borders were expanded and leadership was just. He focuses on the Tang dynasty where China resurfaced as a unified power and the Song where China was last ruled by its own people before being over run by a series of outside powers. One reads a history where China has not been unified throughout its history and fragmentation of the empire has been distinct in multiple periods. One learns of how China had frequent dynastic turnover as emperors were invaded and lost the faith of the people only for the cycle to repeat itself. One of course learns of the Mongolian invasion and their Yuan dynasty as well as the peasant uprising that led to the Ming dynasty. It is fascinating to learn about how the mandate of heaven was transferred to a peasant in more than one occasion when the broad population was discontent with the ruler of the times. The relative decline of China is described in the last 500 years as it went from most properous and populous to exploited as industrialization took place in the west and gun boat diplomacy defined trade relations. This happened in particular with the Manchu's as they conquered the Ming in the 17th century. From there one sees a sequence of bullying trade deals and incremental isolation of China. The author spends time discussing the opium wars and the nationalist movement in China with Sun Yat-Sen and leaves us at the end of the second world war.

China: A History gives a relatively quick overview of the major dynasties in China and its early modern history. Multiple more volumes could no doubt be written but this is a good starting point to get a sense of how China has evolved and where its civilization started. The archaeological record continues to broaden as its academic world opens up. This book gives you exactly what the title says, a History of China. The writing is clear and the content is interesting, worth the read.

This is the finest history of China I have read. Much better than Spence or Fairbank. It manages to capture the flavor and nuance of of each dynasty as well as the economic and social changes. The writing is clear and often gripping. Of course, even at 500 pages, it is only an overview of the 5,000 years of Chinese History. The only comparison I can think of is "China Marches West" by Peter Perdue, but then he covers only the Qing Dynasty's and it conquest of Manchuria (part), Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

Keay's narrative on the history of China is certainly different than the conventional ones written on the subject. For the first few pages, one may find this refreshing and even entertaining. However, reading on, one soon discovers that Keay's own views are persistently found throughout. Keay spends much of the book to dwell on the non Han minorities. This is understandable since throughout Chinese history minorities play an important role, but the book should be more balanced for more descriptions on other areas of Chinese history such as the developments in art, culture, religion. Keay is an expert on Indian history; I suspect more so than on Chinese history, and perhaps that expertise caused him to write more on tribal cultures and influences. Furthermore, Keay's opinions on the characteristics of dynastic and monarchic rule continue to show up in the narration, which is first tiresome and then becomes annoying.
Not recommended as a first book on the history of China. It is an interesting read for a different but opinionated perspective on the subject, probably for readers who already have basic knowledge of the subject.