What do you think?
Rate this book
Foundations of Chinese Civilization: The Yellow Emperor to the Han Dynasty (2697 BCE - 220 CE)
Who founded China? Are Chinese people religious? What is Chinese culture and how has it changed over time? The accessible and fun Understanding China Through Comics series answers those questions and more.
For all ages, Foundations of Chinese Civilization covers China's early history in comic form, introducing philosophies like Confucianism and Daoism, the story of the Silk Road, famous emperors like Han Wudi, and the process of China's unification.
Includes a handy timeline. This is volume one of the Understanding China Through Comics series.
Jing Liu is a Beijing native now living in Davis, California. A successful designer and entrepreneur who helped brands tell their stories, Jing currently uses his artistry to tell the story of China.
For all ages, Foundations of Chinese Civilization covers China's early history in comic form, introducing philosophies like Confucianism and Daoism, the story of the Silk Road, famous emperors like Han Wudi, and the process of China's unification.
Includes a handy timeline. This is volume one of the Understanding China Through Comics series.
Jing Liu is a Beijing native now living in Davis, California. A successful designer and entrepreneur who helped brands tell their stories, Jing currently uses his artistry to tell the story of China.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2016
3 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Jing Liu
10 books40 followersAuthor of Understanding China through Comics. An entrepreneur with an enduring passion for the creative industry.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 25, 2021
2016 Review:
I went into this with almost no real knowledge of Chinese history, and most of the history I was aware of is what I learned from fiction, or what I learned of China in relation to countries whose history I learned more of. I came to the point of wanting to learn more about eastern history, as most of my knowledge is based around western history. This is an excellent summary of early Chinese history.
This is written in an easy to read, graphic novel style that makes it well suited to a teen audience, although I never felt talked down to. I felt it was written in such a way that any newcomer to Chinese history would get something out of this, regardless of age. This mainly focuses on the portion of Chinese history before common era, and it gives an accessible and interesting overview of all the topics outlined. It dealt with the major dynasties of the period, major political and philosophical figures, different schools of thought, and major events. It also touches on language, currency, measurement, etc. While I definitely feel as though I have a lot more to learn on the topic, I feel less overwhelmed by the possibility of other books and documentaries on the period now that I have some background knowledge.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an easy to read overview of early Chinese history. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and feel as though I learned a lot from it. I personally fully intend to read the following three volumes, and I have already requested that my library get the second volume in.
I went into this with almost no real knowledge of Chinese history, and most of the history I was aware of is what I learned from fiction, or what I learned of China in relation to countries whose history I learned more of. I came to the point of wanting to learn more about eastern history, as most of my knowledge is based around western history. This is an excellent summary of early Chinese history.
This is written in an easy to read, graphic novel style that makes it well suited to a teen audience, although I never felt talked down to. I felt it was written in such a way that any newcomer to Chinese history would get something out of this, regardless of age. This mainly focuses on the portion of Chinese history before common era, and it gives an accessible and interesting overview of all the topics outlined. It dealt with the major dynasties of the period, major political and philosophical figures, different schools of thought, and major events. It also touches on language, currency, measurement, etc. While I definitely feel as though I have a lot more to learn on the topic, I feel less overwhelmed by the possibility of other books and documentaries on the period now that I have some background knowledge.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an easy to read overview of early Chinese history. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and feel as though I learned a lot from it. I personally fully intend to read the following three volumes, and I have already requested that my library get the second volume in.
November 20, 2017
I thought this was an excellent and most enlightening presentation in graphic history form, of about 2,000 years of Chinese civilization. It is well-written and well-drawn; I've given it 5 stars because for me at least it clarified and explained many "mysteries" about China, its geography, the relationship of its geography and the dynastic cycles (in fact, the term dynastic cycle was something I even heard of previously). This book conveys a great deal of useful information about China in an accessible and pleasant format. I'd recommend it for anyone -- adult, teens, kids!
And now for the quotes:
"Discussion about China tends to center on its economic growth and for good reason. In just three decades China has gone from third world country to the world's second largest economy and in doing so it has lifted over 600 million peole from poverty."
"Dynastic cycle. In order to understand why dynasties rose and fell, traditional Chinese scholars came up with the idea of the dynastic cycle.
1. A ruler unifies china and founds a dynasty.
2. The country prospers.
3. The population increases.
4. Problems arise due to limited resources, corruption, and inequality between the rich and poor.
5. Natural disasters, foreign invasions, and political infighting trigger multiple crises.
6. When these crises disrupt farming, the ensuing famine causes rebellion among the people.
7. The central government collapses in war.
8. The population decreases.
9. A rebel leader emerges to begin a new dynasty and the dynastic cycle starts again."
"During monsoon season, annual rainfall is concentrated in a pan of three months during the summer. This intense precipitation often leads to floods followed by droughts."
"Today, the Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group on earth. they account for 92% of the people in China, or 20% of the world's population."
"Having a centralized government for half its history has allowed China to survive as an agriculture-based economy, despite being prone to floods, droughts, and nomad invasions. [An emperor says:] "We can quickly mobilize the resources of the entire country to handle both invaders and natural disasters." However, when a central government collapsed, violence plagued the country and caused massive loss of life. As many as 2/3 of the population might perish during a dynastic change."
"The Mandate of Heaven became a universal cry used by rebels throughout Chinese history. [A rebel says:] People have the right to overthrow any ruler who fails to provide for their needs. We have a mandate from heaven to start a new dynasty!"
[A song big and small landowners sing when King Li decided to ban private land ownership:]
"Big rat, big rat,
Do not eat our millet!
Three years we have served you,
Yet you don't care a thing about us.
One day we will leave you,
And go that happy land.
Happy land, happy land,
There we shall find our place."
"To make trading efficient, money became widely used in China during the Eastern Zhou."
"Sun Tzu, a military general, was the key figure in the School of the Military [one of the six major schools of thought that arose during the Eastern Zhou dynasty]. His strategic thinking was recorded in The Art of War."
"At age 30, Confucius set out on a journey that would influence china for the next 2,000 years."
"Confucian teaching: The five virtues: Benevolence, Righteousness, Ritual, Knowledge, Integrity. The four elements: Loyalty, Filial piety, self-restraint, devotion to principle."
[Confucius is shown saying:] "To help you understand my teachings, I've boiled down everything to one concept. Ren (Benevolence)."
"Confucius created an educational system that could: Provide a government with knowledgeable candidates for official posts. Motivate commoners to better themselves and achieve a higher social status through learning."
Legalism was another major school of thought that arose during the Eastern Zhou. A "power-mad" would-be ruler is shown saying: "A legalist can strengthen a state by keeping its people weak. How long does it take a benevolent person to win a war?"
[Emperor Wu] "... issued an equal-inheritance law in 128 BCE." [An off-frame person says:] "The main purpose of the law is to break large kingdoms into small pieces. Previously, the eldest son would inherit the land and title of his parents. Now, everything must be equally divided among all the sons."
[A Western Han emperor is depicted saying:] "In peaceful times like these, an obvious choice for a state ideology is Confucianism. It is most suitable for a bureaucratic system. Plus many ruling elites have already embraced Confucianism since they need Confucian music, ceremony, and etiquette to differentiate themselves from commoners."
"...the Western Han set up diplomatic outposts in Central Asia to facilitate the trade of silk for horses. Some of the silk traveled 4,000 miles and passed through many middlemen until it reached the Roman Empire. This network of trade routes was later known as the Silk Road."
"In 8 CE, [Wang Mang] .. took the thrown and soon established the Xin dynasty (9-23 CE), ending the Western Han." [Depiction of Wang Mang saying:]"Now I can make this country great again."
[Depictions of people eating and cooking.] "The new fashion in the Eastern Han is to use chopsticks to eat stir-fried dishes. First chop food in bite-sized pieces or smaller. Then stir and toss them in the wok. With stir-frying, I can cook a dish in minutes while bringing out a delicious flavor and aroma."
"Many were caught in the crossfire of this deadly [Eastern Han dynasty] infighting. Among them was Cai Lun (63-121), the inventor of paper."
"In Han times, the court used bamboo strips sewn together and rolled into scrolls. [Depiction of person bringing scrolls to a scroll storage room:] "It's too heavy to move!"
"The endless machinations at court marked the beginning of the end for the Eastern Han. The divided government became mired in many of the same issues that would trouble future dynasties in their last years. Huge population, Inequality, No tax base."
And now for the quotes:
"Discussion about China tends to center on its economic growth and for good reason. In just three decades China has gone from third world country to the world's second largest economy and in doing so it has lifted over 600 million peole from poverty."
"Dynastic cycle. In order to understand why dynasties rose and fell, traditional Chinese scholars came up with the idea of the dynastic cycle.
1. A ruler unifies china and founds a dynasty.
2. The country prospers.
3. The population increases.
4. Problems arise due to limited resources, corruption, and inequality between the rich and poor.
5. Natural disasters, foreign invasions, and political infighting trigger multiple crises.
6. When these crises disrupt farming, the ensuing famine causes rebellion among the people.
7. The central government collapses in war.
8. The population decreases.
9. A rebel leader emerges to begin a new dynasty and the dynastic cycle starts again."
"During monsoon season, annual rainfall is concentrated in a pan of three months during the summer. This intense precipitation often leads to floods followed by droughts."
"Today, the Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group on earth. they account for 92% of the people in China, or 20% of the world's population."
"Having a centralized government for half its history has allowed China to survive as an agriculture-based economy, despite being prone to floods, droughts, and nomad invasions. [An emperor says:] "We can quickly mobilize the resources of the entire country to handle both invaders and natural disasters." However, when a central government collapsed, violence plagued the country and caused massive loss of life. As many as 2/3 of the population might perish during a dynastic change."
"The Mandate of Heaven became a universal cry used by rebels throughout Chinese history. [A rebel says:] People have the right to overthrow any ruler who fails to provide for their needs. We have a mandate from heaven to start a new dynasty!"
[A song big and small landowners sing when King Li decided to ban private land ownership:]
"Big rat, big rat,
Do not eat our millet!
Three years we have served you,
Yet you don't care a thing about us.
One day we will leave you,
And go that happy land.
Happy land, happy land,
There we shall find our place."
"To make trading efficient, money became widely used in China during the Eastern Zhou."
"Sun Tzu, a military general, was the key figure in the School of the Military [one of the six major schools of thought that arose during the Eastern Zhou dynasty]. His strategic thinking was recorded in The Art of War."
"At age 30, Confucius set out on a journey that would influence china for the next 2,000 years."
"Confucian teaching: The five virtues: Benevolence, Righteousness, Ritual, Knowledge, Integrity. The four elements: Loyalty, Filial piety, self-restraint, devotion to principle."
[Confucius is shown saying:] "To help you understand my teachings, I've boiled down everything to one concept. Ren (Benevolence)."
"Confucius created an educational system that could: Provide a government with knowledgeable candidates for official posts. Motivate commoners to better themselves and achieve a higher social status through learning."
Legalism was another major school of thought that arose during the Eastern Zhou. A "power-mad" would-be ruler is shown saying: "A legalist can strengthen a state by keeping its people weak. How long does it take a benevolent person to win a war?"
[Emperor Wu] "... issued an equal-inheritance law in 128 BCE." [An off-frame person says:] "The main purpose of the law is to break large kingdoms into small pieces. Previously, the eldest son would inherit the land and title of his parents. Now, everything must be equally divided among all the sons."
[A Western Han emperor is depicted saying:] "In peaceful times like these, an obvious choice for a state ideology is Confucianism. It is most suitable for a bureaucratic system. Plus many ruling elites have already embraced Confucianism since they need Confucian music, ceremony, and etiquette to differentiate themselves from commoners."
"...the Western Han set up diplomatic outposts in Central Asia to facilitate the trade of silk for horses. Some of the silk traveled 4,000 miles and passed through many middlemen until it reached the Roman Empire. This network of trade routes was later known as the Silk Road."
"In 8 CE, [Wang Mang] .. took the thrown and soon established the Xin dynasty (9-23 CE), ending the Western Han." [Depiction of Wang Mang saying:]"Now I can make this country great again."
[Depictions of people eating and cooking.] "The new fashion in the Eastern Han is to use chopsticks to eat stir-fried dishes. First chop food in bite-sized pieces or smaller. Then stir and toss them in the wok. With stir-frying, I can cook a dish in minutes while bringing out a delicious flavor and aroma."
"Many were caught in the crossfire of this deadly [Eastern Han dynasty] infighting. Among them was Cai Lun (63-121), the inventor of paper."
"In Han times, the court used bamboo strips sewn together and rolled into scrolls. [Depiction of person bringing scrolls to a scroll storage room:] "It's too heavy to move!"
"The endless machinations at court marked the beginning of the end for the Eastern Han. The divided government became mired in many of the same issues that would trouble future dynasties in their last years. Huge population, Inequality, No tax base."
March 11, 2017
If I had to sum this book up in one word, it would be, "unsurprising." This is, in many ways, a typical history book. The accounts are presented without embellishment, each fact meticulously researched and rigorously checked, all pinned to a board in neat rows like so many insects in a Victorian museum. Granted, the subject is huge. With so much history to tackle in such a short book, it was inevitable that the text would leap frantically from highlight to highlight. The cartooning is decent, but uninspired. I like the idea of Chinese history in comics form, but surely it's possible to do better than this? If you're passionately interested in Chinese history you might enjoy this, but even then, there are undoubtedly better books on the subject. I like the idea, but the execution is sorely lacking ...
December 13, 2018
1600 BCE Shang dynasty
1200 BCE Oracle bone script
1046 BCE Zhou dynasty
551 BCE Confucius born
221 BCE Qin dynasty
202 BCE - 220 CE Han dynasty
105 CE Cai Lun invents papermaking process. [p. 148]
[p. 8]
1. A ruler unifies China and founds a dynasty.
2. Prosperity.
3. Population increase.
4. Scarcity, corruption, inequality.
5. Flood/drought, foreign invasion, power grabs.
6. Famine, rebellion.
7. Government collapses in war.
8. Millions die.
9. Rebel leader repeats #1. [pp. 16-17]
It's an ugly story.
Western history /seems/ more interesting than this. Maybe if told in strokes this broad it wouldn't be.
95% of Chinese now live in the half of China with 16+ inches of rain per year. [p. 23]
320 million died in 8 dynastic changes, 206 BCE-1912 CE. [pp. 29, 14]
1200 BCE Oracle bone script
1046 BCE Zhou dynasty
551 BCE Confucius born
221 BCE Qin dynasty
202 BCE - 220 CE Han dynasty
105 CE Cai Lun invents papermaking process. [p. 148]
[p. 8]
1. A ruler unifies China and founds a dynasty.
2. Prosperity.
3. Population increase.
4. Scarcity, corruption, inequality.
5. Flood/drought, foreign invasion, power grabs.
6. Famine, rebellion.
7. Government collapses in war.
8. Millions die.
9. Rebel leader repeats #1. [pp. 16-17]
It's an ugly story.
Western history /seems/ more interesting than this. Maybe if told in strokes this broad it wouldn't be.
95% of Chinese now live in the half of China with 16+ inches of rain per year. [p. 23]
320 million died in 8 dynastic changes, 206 BCE-1912 CE. [pp. 29, 14]
October 20, 2016
An extremely dry introduction to the history in China. The "comic" aspect of this little book could have been much better and rather than teaching through comics, it made little amendments through the addition of illustrations. It could have been so much more had either a stronger focal point been added, telling the life story of each emperor who left a mark on what will become China, getting to know the influences that shaped those characters themselves. True, it would be an enormously lengthy project, but it would've been engrossing.
July 6, 2017
Excellent. Lucid, insightful, well structured and with thoughtful use of the potential of the graphic novel/book format
![Profile Image for Amanda [Novel Addiction].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1415744673i%2F4886503._UX200_CR0%2C36%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 26, 2016
I took a Chinese History class in college, and even though we had an entire semester, there was too much to cover. This book does a great job summarizing the massive amount of information, and explaining the different policies instituted during the different dynasties. I'd give it four stars, but I wasn't too big a fan of the illustrations.
February 25, 2025
A excellent primer on Chinese history for a Westerner such as myself. We don't necessarily learn these things in school and I don't really have the time (or inclination) to slog through a thick tome of Chinese history. This is the happy middle ground.
October 4, 2021
This review will be for all four books in this series.
I had absolutely no historical knowledge of China whatsoever when I went into these graphic novels. I’d recently started John Keay’s China: A History, and really felt like I could use a basic overview of Chinese history before I dove any further into his book. I found these, and I think they’re perfect.
Another reviewer mentioned that while they are very basic, she never felt talked down to, and I agree. The format makes these books accessible for most readers, and gave me a nice starting point for understanding who the Chinese people are and where they come from.
There are four books covering 2697 BCE – 1912 CE, and I was able to get through all of them in the same day. I loved the illustrations, which ranged from cute and cartoonish to devastating in their depictions of the facts.
I’d love to see this compiled into 1 volume and taught in schools. It can only benefit our society to know more about the world.
I had absolutely no historical knowledge of China whatsoever when I went into these graphic novels. I’d recently started John Keay’s China: A History, and really felt like I could use a basic overview of Chinese history before I dove any further into his book. I found these, and I think they’re perfect.
Another reviewer mentioned that while they are very basic, she never felt talked down to, and I agree. The format makes these books accessible for most readers, and gave me a nice starting point for understanding who the Chinese people are and where they come from.
There are four books covering 2697 BCE – 1912 CE, and I was able to get through all of them in the same day. I loved the illustrations, which ranged from cute and cartoonish to devastating in their depictions of the facts.
I’d love to see this compiled into 1 volume and taught in schools. It can only benefit our society to know more about the world.
March 16, 2020
A greatly informative summary comic covering recorded Chinese history until the end of the Han dynasty. A few of the people and concepts have prior name recognition (the Silk Road, Confucianism, Sun Tzu, the Great Wall, etc) and this offers context on how they fit in; most inclusions are totally new to me, though. Liu manages to tell this nearly 3000 year story as a broad but cohesive serial narrative that feels well-researched, offering explanations in a tone that doesn’t seem especially judgmental or opinionated, plus a few humorous historical anecdotes along the way too. The art is mostly simple and cartoon-y, but effective enough if not especially noteworthy on its own.
I didn’t realize this cut off so early, and I’m curious about the remaining three volumes in the series that cover history since 220.
I didn’t realize this cut off so early, and I’m curious about the remaining three volumes in the series that cover history since 220.
January 2, 2023
I love this quote on p. 46
If we always choose emotion over reason, like choosing conflict over diplomacy, our world will descend into chaos. However, if we only value reason over emotion, repressed emotions will eventually be expressed in violent ways.
If you study, you know. If you know, you are wise, If you are wise, you are fair, If you are fair, you grow. If you grow, you can manage your family well. If you can manage your family well, you can serve the country. If you can serve the country, you can improve the world. p. 77
I liked the book overall, as it was helpful to get a brief understanding fo the history of China. I read the text for the purpose of the geography course that I am teaching, and I don't see the need for the book for that course, but for a world history course it would definitely be helpful.
If we always choose emotion over reason, like choosing conflict over diplomacy, our world will descend into chaos. However, if we only value reason over emotion, repressed emotions will eventually be expressed in violent ways.
If you study, you know. If you know, you are wise, If you are wise, you are fair, If you are fair, you grow. If you grow, you can manage your family well. If you can manage your family well, you can serve the country. If you can serve the country, you can improve the world. p. 77
I liked the book overall, as it was helpful to get a brief understanding fo the history of China. I read the text for the purpose of the geography course that I am teaching, and I don't see the need for the book for that course, but for a world history course it would definitely be helpful.
July 15, 2019
Pretty good as an overview. More of a broad and concise general chronology than an in-depth one. Short intro and context to Chinese Civilization and a good springboard for further reading and study. Took in various factors into account - interesting to see how China’s power balance was primarily influenced by three things: constant nomad threats (led to the creation of the Silk Road), natural disasters, and power intrigue/system (human greed). Focus placed around the changing of dynasties and policies and advancements in education, culture, & the like.
Graphic novel-wise, the drawings aren’t the best I’ve seen, but it was well done given the brief nature of the content. Would’ve loved to read other richly-drawn comics set on Chinese history (fiction or nonfiction). If you really want to learn Chinese history, this series is only skeletal. Need to read the classics and even modern fiction to flesh out the rich nuances of Chinese culture and history. I’m excited to learn more!
Fun fact: The Chinese exchanged silk for strong, fast horses from the Roman Empire in order to fight against formidable nomads — 4,000 miles of Silk Road. It took Zhang Qian 13 years to curate good horses in the West, since China’s farmlands weren’t suitable for raising horses.
Quick, fun, informative read. Recommended.
Graphic novel-wise, the drawings aren’t the best I’ve seen, but it was well done given the brief nature of the content. Would’ve loved to read other richly-drawn comics set on Chinese history (fiction or nonfiction). If you really want to learn Chinese history, this series is only skeletal. Need to read the classics and even modern fiction to flesh out the rich nuances of Chinese culture and history. I’m excited to learn more!
Fun fact: The Chinese exchanged silk for strong, fast horses from the Roman Empire in order to fight against formidable nomads — 4,000 miles of Silk Road. It took Zhang Qian 13 years to curate good horses in the West, since China’s farmlands weren’t suitable for raising horses.
Quick, fun, informative read. Recommended.
December 21, 2017
Really great introduction to the history of China beginning with its foundations during the BCE times. Presented in a graphical format, Jing Liu provides an overview of how Chinese civilization has developed using various resources as well as writing in a simplified manner. While I would like to read a dense history book, this is really great for a quick overview to get familiar with historical figures as well as learning about the Chinese dynasties. This series is currently 4 volumes long, going up to 1912 (so it may have a 5th volume covering the past 100 years), and really great for young adults interested in history.
February 3, 2019
The first of the four part series on the history of China. The book covers a lot of economic, geographic, agricultural and military reasons for the growth and transition of different dynasties in China. A good good look at how history and different eminent people influenced the philosophy, culture, language and script of modern china.
The illustrations and comic book format makes the history accessible without compromising on the facts which sometimes makes the subject dry. A lot of information is contained in the book making it a little dense. Looking forward to the other books in the series.
The illustrations and comic book format makes the history accessible without compromising on the facts which sometimes makes the subject dry. A lot of information is contained in the book making it a little dense. Looking forward to the other books in the series.
February 7, 2024
I wish something like this existed when I was studying Chinese history in college! So much more fun and accessible! That said, this is still pretty dense history to absorb, and despite the art, I'd consider it a text-based book. The comics are simply supplementing the text, not the other way around as I feel most comics and graphic novels do. This timeframe of Chinese history doesn't particularly interest me, but 20th century communist China DOES, so I'm really only reading this series to refresh myself on what led up to that.
January 21, 2021
More expository than I'd expected, but still plenty readable. Creating an introduction which is neither tedious nor dizzying is no small feat, given the scale of space and time.
I especially appreciated the frequent inclusion of maps and map overlays. My education in geography was basically limited to the contiguous US and parts of the Mediterranean... I tend to be lost while reading books about or set in China. Liu particularly excelled in addressing that gap.
I especially appreciated the frequent inclusion of maps and map overlays. My education in geography was basically limited to the contiguous US and parts of the Mediterranean... I tend to be lost while reading books about or set in China. Liu particularly excelled in addressing that gap.
September 13, 2018
I don't know much about Chinese history but I feel this book did a good job of breaking down the first part. The graphics helped make more complicated ideals of agriculture and government layout understandable in just a few pages. I'm excited for the next one, but I think this deserves a second read because as well laid out as it was that was a lot of information coming at me fast
September 9, 2018
My review for this whole series (minus the second book, which my library did not have a copy of) is the same: The author is trying to race through confusing dynasties and philosophy and does that part really well, often at the expense of the art.
December 14, 2017
Informative intro to early Chinese history.
July 29, 2018
Many more eunuchs than expected.
April 30, 2019
Kind of Textbook.
August 6, 2019
Not bad for a primer to get in touch with China history. Very light and easy to read, although, of course, very superficial and summarized. Too bad that I can't find the last book in kindle format...
October 14, 2019
This is a very well done comic. I wish there was more details into the clans themselves, but since it hard to simplify so much information, I believ this was well done.
January 26, 2020
Short but informative and easy-to-understand introduction to the early Chinese dynasties, their rulers, governments, economies, accomplishments, rises and falls.
May 12, 2020
Excellent graphic overview of 3000 years of ancient Chinese history. Wish it had a glossary, rather than assuming young readers understand the meaning of words like “dynasty” and “eunuch.”
August 28, 2020
Brief but lucid overview of Ancient China, covering through the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220.
October 3, 2022
Short and covers a lot of ground. I learned a lot.
February 17, 2023
Well done for a general overview of China’s history from 2697 BC to 220 AD in a fun-to-read, illustrated format.
April 5, 2023
Fraco, a arte não agrega nada.
June 4, 2023
A great little comic book with coverage of the early dynasties of China.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews