Chinese History and Civilisation:An Urban Perspective

The emergence of the city marks the beginning of a civilisation. The city, especially the leading cities of a country, is also where the major features of a country are contained and where historical events play out. This book introduces readers to the progress of China's civilisation over more than 5000 years of history, through the rise and development of its cities.From the prehistoric Yangshuo and Longshan periods all the way to the People's Republic, this book outlines major events and developments to highlight the evolution of the Chinese civilisation. Using historical dynasties and urban dynamics as vertical dimensions, it examines major historical events, economic developments, territorial changes, and other developments over China's long history. It also discusses the uniqueness of China's history and compares its civilisations to Western experiences.
Contents

About the Author
Preface
Introduction: Civilisation, City, History, and Chinese Characteristics
China's Urban Civilisation: Origin and Stages of Development
From Village to Proto-cities of Late Yangshao Period
Longshan: Early City-states
Xia Dynasty: Civilisation in the Early Bronze Age
Shang Urbanism at the Climax of Bronze Metallurgy
Matured Canons, Laws, and Institutions: Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States
Qin and Han: Centralised Territorial State and the Administrative City
Tang: Golden Age of the Confucian Model
Song Renaissance and the New Urbanity
Ming Dynasty: Reconstruction of Chinese Civilisation after the Yuan
Qing China: From Neo-Confucianism to Confrontation with the West
People's Republic: Chinese Civilisation with Socialist Approach
Message from the Evolution of China's Urban Civilisation
References
Index