Storia della Cina

by J.A.G. Roberts, Marta Innocenti (Translator)

La presenza della Cina sulla scena internazionale si è rafforzata negli ultimi anni in modo spettacolare, con lo sviluppo impetuoso dell'economia e con l'apertura al turismo. Ma che cosa sappiamo davvero di questo paese? Il libro intende rispondere all'esigenza di una prima informazione, e abbraccia in un solo sguardo l'intera vicenda della storia cinese, dalla preistoria a oggi. Questa edizione aggiornata comprende una sintesi degli avvenimenti degli ultimissimi anni, fino alle Olimpiadi di Pechino e all'Expo di Shanghai.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China, Asia, Education, Politics

468 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Gianluca Sperduti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 se f0sse possibile
Perfetto per avere un'idea generale della storia cinese fino alla prima Repubblica. Il Roberts ha scritto una parte moderna che a quanto mi è stato detto è dettagliata e ben fatta e mi piace molto come il libro non dia per scontate le posizioni della storiografia principale, ma ne riporti anche di molto aggiornate (si veda il ruolo di Qin Shi Huangdi nella costruzione della muraglia cinese, ad esempio). Sono riportate anche le posizioni della storiografia marxista e per la poca lunghezza del libro direi che è un gran pregio avere tutti questi punti di vista disponibili, seppur brevemente.
Un capitolo che reputo scritto davvero da cani, incomprensibile, è quello sul medioevo cinese: confuso, stanco (nel senso che è palese al lettore la non-voglia di parlarne dell'autore), fatto tanto per.
A fare da bilancia, invece, il capitolo sui Tang: dettagliato, ben scritto e altamente completo.
Se volete avere un'idea generale ma pur sempre accademica della storia della cina fino a alla caduta Qing, il Roberts può essere per voi un buon compagno di viaggio

[Wendy Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very interesting! The book covers ancient times to the modern age. Ambitious, so can only be read as a concise summary but still really interesting to see how much the nation has changed, the rise and fall of dynasties...
I found the section on modern China very moving, I wasn't aware of the many unequal treaties brokered with foreign powers - no wonder there was a sense of national humiliation, and consequent nationalist movement.
What I wonder at though, is how strong the sense of national identity is... even in ancient times, it seems other nations were being "sinocised". Quite incredible this cultural unity has persisted to the modern age.

This book provides an interesting perspective on the rise of the CCP and the decline of the national Party, as driven by the Japanese invasion. Ironic that the lesson both parties learned was agriculture is the bedrock of society - else (1) peasant uprising, then later (2) famine

[Maxim Pyankov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, no-nonsense and concise overview of China’s history. The author, in my opinion, did a great job of laying out the main themes and events which shaped Chinese history. The author, on many occasions, presented various historic views on the same event, with some background explanation, which I found very helpful and interesting. I felt as if I had enough background information to form my own opinion about the events being described, without being pushed into one opinion or another.

The book may seem “dry” and fast paced to some. Personally, I wanted to get an overview of factual events that took place in China’s history without a lot of political commentary or political analysis – and I received just that.

[Robert Baranowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fits an incredibly dense subject into 300 pages. Helpful in understanding chronology in Chinese history for a beginner. Best used as an introduction or primer for a deeper dive into Chinese history or culture.

[Kesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for an incredibly brief overview of some key aspects of Chinese history and to contextualise some dates and periods in time

[Sam Reaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

One problem for people interested in Chinese history is that there's a whole heck of a lot of it. Another is keeping the names straight, especially as many of the rulers assumed new names when they took power. There's a lot of this: "...Li Shimin, henceforth to be known as Taizong." My favorite is "Yang Jian, better known by his posthumous title, Wendi." Whatever the names, Chinese history is a massive epic of cycles of progress and decline, still being written.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

First History of China book so I don't have anything to compare it against. I thought it did a good job of condensing a VERY long history into 300 pages. Since it covered such a long time period there weren't really any consistent story archs that I've enjoyed in other, more focused, history books.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A precursor to learning some of the language. It focused on what the author found interesting rather than significant events. I know plenty of the political infighting of 3rd century China over wool dyeing, but little about Mao Zedong, Li Po, or Confucius.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. I was looking for something tilted a bit more towards ancient/medieval Chinese cultural achievements. This book was focused more on the leaders and military accomplishments throughout Chinese history. The section about modern (1950 forward) china was interesting.

[Jills_Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 stars. It was good but Chinese history is very long and convoluted. He didn't handle this or organize it in the most clear and advantageous way. Still a good book, though. I learned quite a bit.

[Haikon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward and objective history. For better or worse, Roberts makes no great attempt to depart from conventional Chinese Historiography.