Pre-Qin History - Chinese History

Author: Shen Changyun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Xia, Shang, Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States periods mark the beginning of Chinese history and the origin of Huaxia civilization. Through in-depth research, the author concisely outlines the history of China from the entry into the civilized society to the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, specifically covering the rise and fall, governance and chaos of the three earliest dynasties: the Xia, Shang, Western Zhou, and the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. This includes the struggles for annexation among the vassal states after these dynasties, the political, economic, cultural, and intellectual developments of this era, ethnic relations, and social changes. The book pays special attention to incorporating recent academic achievements in the study of pre-Qin history and highlights newly discovered archaeological evidence, including fieldwork and ancient inscriptions. In terms of overall content, it places greater emphasis on analyzing social life and social structures, as well as introducing the progress of civilization outside the Central Plains. These aspects are often missing in previous works on pre-Qin history. The author, Shen Changyun, is the Vice President of the Society of Pre-Qin History in China, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Historical and Cultural Studies, Hebei Normal University. He has long been engaged in teaching and researching pre-Qin history, and the book includes his unique insights on fundamental theoretical and academic issues. The appendix, "A Hundred Years of Review and Prospects in Pre-Qin History Research," will help readers gain a deeper understanding of pre-Qin history.