A Brief History of China Dynasty Revolution and Transformation 1st edition by Jonathan Clements ISBN 0804850054 9780804850056

Part I: Ancient China and the Imperial Dynasties

1. The Birth of China: The Early Dynasties

   • The Shang and Zhou dynasties
   • The role of Confucianism, Daoism, and early philosophies
   • Development of Chinese statecraft and bureaucracy

2. The Qin Dynasty and the Unification of China

   • The rise of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
   • The construction of the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army
   • Legalism and centralization of power

3. The Han Dynasty: The Golden Age

   • Expansion of the empire and the Silk Road
   • Consolidation of Confucian principles in governance
   • Social and economic developments

4. The Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties

   • The Sui reunification and its collapse
   • The cultural and political flowering of the Tang dynasty
   • The Song dynasty’s technological advancements and economic rise

Part II: The Mongol Invasion and the Ming Dynasty

5. The Mongol Invasions: The Yuan Dynasty

   • The rise of Genghis Khan and the Mongol conquest
   • The establishment of the Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan
   • The impacts of Mongol rule on Chinese society

6. The Ming Dynasty: Return to Chinese Rule

   • The overthrow of the Mongols and the rise of the Ming Dynasty
   • Exploration under Admiral Zheng He
   • Cultural and economic growth during the Ming period

Part III: Decline of the Qing Dynasty and the Rise of Revolution

7. The Qing Dynasty: The Last Imperial Dynasty

   • The establishment of the Qing Dynasty by the Manchus
   • The empire’s expansion and cultural challenges
   • The internal problems leading to decline

8. The Opium Wars and the Fall of the Qing Dynasty

   • The impact of the Opium Wars and the unequal treaties
   • Rebellions and internal strife (Taiping and Boxer Rebellions)
   • The gradual weakening of imperial power

9. The Revolution of 1911: The End of Imperial China

   • The role of Sun Yat-sen and the rise of republicanism
   • The overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China

Part IV: The Republic of China and the Communist Revolution

10. The Early Republic: Struggles and Reform

    • The political fragmentation and warlord period
    • The May Fourth Movement and the push for modernization

11. The Chinese Civil War and the Rise of the Communists

    • The conflict between the Nationalists (Kuomintang) and Communists
    • The role of figures like Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong
    • The Long March and the rise of Communist influence

12. The Japanese Invasion and the Second World War

    • The Second Sino-Japanese War and China’s resistance
    • The effect of the Japanese invasion on Chinese society and politics

13. The Communist Victory and the Establishment of the People’s Republic of China

    • The victory of the Communist Party in 1949
    • Mao Zedong’s leadership and the establishment of the People’s Republic

Part V: Modern China: Transformation and Globalization

14. Mao’s China: Revolution and Ideology

    • The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution
    • The effects of Maoist policies on Chinese society and economy

15. Post-Mao China: Reform and Opening Up

    • The leadership of Deng Xiaoping and economic reforms
    • The shift from a planned economy to a market-oriented one
    • China’s integration into the global economy

16. China in the 21st Century: Global Power and Challenges

    • The rise of China as a global superpower
    • Political, social, and environmental challenges
    • The future of China under current leadership