China Condensed: 5000 Years of History and Culture

by Ong Siew Chey

About four to five thousand years ago, the fertile flatlands of the middle Yellow River slowly emerged and grew to what we know today as China. Throughout the millennia, this civilization has slowly evolved to be one of the world's biggest economies to reckon with today. This book is a quick introduction to China, with the major part being devoted to its long history. The reader is taken on an insightful journey through the dynasties and learns first hand the major evolutionary changes in almost every aspect of China's development, particularly in arts and culture.
This compact and accessible book successfully condenses five millennia of Chinese history and civilisation into 200 pages. More than a dry recitation of dates, names and events, the book coves a wide range of interesting topics such as the mythical beginnings of China, Chinese stories and legends, traditional Chinese medicine and more current facts and observations.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China

175 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Steve Hornsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book in advance of a trip to China. Largely does what it says on the tin. Gave a reasonable introduction to histories, dynasties, and culture.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good survey book of Chines history. Author waxes their own opinions a bit too often. Explanation of Chinese calendar system was odd.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright but, to save space, Dr Chey spent China's last century on war. A drag to read until the second secrion about more specific topics like art and culture.

[Maxim S. P. Moshnyakov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up recently before going through each dynasty's history more in detail. Very useful in terms of giving overview of China's history, though of course it's shortness means that it cannot go very deep in them. Still, better than just reading Wikipedia entry on it, the book provides a good narrative and keeps the reader engaged.

Recommended as a very first book for anyone who is going to learn about China's history.

[Alexander Cruz]

Como una introducción, explora de manera muy somera la historia milenaria de China, dejando un esquema muy entendible del desarrollo de ésta nación y cultura. Útil para aquellos que no conocen absolutamente nada del gigante asiático.