China has the longest continuous written history of any civilization, spanning over four thousand years. That history includes some of the most dramatic political transformations, cultural achievements, and military conflicts in human experience, and most of it is surprisingly unknown to Western readers. This book traces China's story from its earliest recorded dynasties through the fall of the Qing and the birth of the modern Chinese state.

The first unified empire under Qin Shi Huang and how he transformed China forever. The Han dynasty, the Silk Road, and China's first contact with the wider world. The Tang golden age, the Song innovations, and what made them possible. The Mongol conquest, the Ming reaction, and the closed door policies that followed. The Qing dynasty, the Opium Wars, and the long decline into the 20th century. Politics, wars, philosophical schools, and economic systems that shaped each era are covered without being overwhelming.

A clear, chronological account of Chinese history from ancient times to the modern era. A solid foundation and a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations.