Discovering China’s history

discovering china history banner

This is a selection of resources on China’s history and heritage available from the NLB catalogue or the Internet and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

NLB print and digital resources

The Penguin history of modern China: The fall and rise of a great power, 1850 to the present

Fenby traces the turbulent journey of China over the past 150 years, covering important social and political events such as the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), end of the Qing dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China (1911-1912), the Warlord Era (1916-1928), birth of The People’s Republic of China (1949), Cultural Revolution (1966 until mid-1970s) and student protests in Tiananmen Square (1989).

Modern China: Continuity and change, 1644 to the present

This book provides an in-depth account of China’s politics, international relations and military history spanning five centuries. Special focus is placed on the impact of warfare on Chinese history and on the influence of neighbours such as Russia and Japan on China’s diplomatic relations.

Routledge handbook of early Chinese history

This handbook surveys the different dynastic periods of Chinese history, covering warfare and political thought, cities and agriculture, language and art, medicine and mathematics.

The Oxford illustrated history of modern China

An essential read for anyone who wants to understand one of the world’s rising superpowers, this lavishly illustrated volume charts the history of China from the founding of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) to the present day.

Age of empires: Art of the Qin and Han dynasties

An in-depth exploration of the artistic and cultural achievements of China’s “classical” era, this publication presents more than 150 works spanning the full breadth of Chinese artistic and decorative media. These include ceramics, metalwork, textiles, armor, sculpture and jewellery that demonstrate the unprecedented role of art in ancient Chinese culture.

Great books of China: From ancient times to the present

This publication introduces readers to outstanding works of various genres on China – ranging from fiction, drama and poetry to history, science and travel – written by philosophers, artists, government officials and scholars, both men and women across the centuries, to aid us in understanding the rich culture of past and present China.

Historical dictionary of medieval China

A rich resource for students and researchers who want to know more about medieval China, this dictionary offers more than 1,000 cross-referenced entries on key historical personalities, including thematic entries on nobility, art, architecture, archaeology, economy, agriculture, money, population, cities, literature, historiography, military, religion, Persia, India, Japan, Korea, Arabs, and Byzantium, among others.

The art of medicine in early China: The ancient and medieval origins of a modern archive

Gain insights into the myths shared by acupuncturists and herbalists behind the birth of the healing arts as the author traces the rich history of Chinese medical historiography and traditional medicine. The book also shows how ancient and medieval ways of knowing live on in popular narratives of medical history, both in modern Asia and in the West.

Ancient China

Discover the impressive accomplishments of the ancient Chinese – including their technological wonders and construction feats – by studying China’s rich history, development, daily happenings, culture, art, technology, warfare, and social organisation.