China and the West to 1600 - Empire, Philosophy, and the Paradox of Culture

Informationen zum Autor Steven Wallech is the senior Professor of World History at Long Beach City College. He developed the world history program there, and integrated the world history curriculum with community colleges and universities throughout California. He is the author of World History: A Concise Thematic Analysis , Volumes One and Two (Wiley, 2012). He earned a Ph.D. in History from Claremont Graduate University and has been teaching at the college/university level for over 30 years. Klappentext A comparative history of Chinese and Western Civilization from the dawn of agriculture to the dawn of modernity in Europe, China and the West to 1600 explores the factors that led to the divergent evolution of two major cultures of the ancient world, and considers how the subsequent developments saw one culture cling to tradition even as the other failed to do so, inadvertently setting the stage for the birth of the Modern Era.* An accessible and inventive comparative history, suitable for all students at the college level as well as general readers* Compares the history of Chinese civilization with Western civilization from the rise of agriculture to the dawn of the modern period* Explores the ways in which Western failures in the Middle Ages after the Roman Empire's collapse, and China's successes in the same period, laid the groundwork for each culture's divergent path in the modern period* Makes meaningful connections between cultures and over time, through the use of themes such as agriculture, philosophy, religion, and warfare and invasion* Bridges the gap between antiquity and modernity, looking at many factors of the global Middle Ages that influenced the development of the modern world* Features a timeline, maps, endnotes, and complete index Zusammenfassung A comparative history of Chinese and Western Civilization from the dawn of agriculture to the dawn of modernity in Europe! China and the West to 1600 explores the factors that led to the divergent evolution of two major cultures of the ancient world! and considers how the subsequent developments saw one culture cling to tradition even as the other failed to do so! inadvertently setting the stage for the birth of the Modern Era.* An accessible and inventive comparative history! suitable for all students at the college level as well as general readers* Compares the history of Chinese civilization with Western civilization from the rise of agriculture to the dawn of the modern period* Explores the ways in which Western failures in the Middle Ages after the Roman Empire's collapse! and China's successes in the same period! laid the groundwork for each culture's divergent path in the modern period* Makes meaningful connections between cultures and over time! through the use of themes such as agriculture! philosophy! religion! and warfare and invasion* Bridges the gap between antiquity and modernity! looking at many factors of the global Middle Ages that influenced the development of the modern world* Features a timeline! maps! endnotes! and complete index Inhaltsverzeichnis Acknowledgements ix Preface xi Introduction 1 Maps 4 Timeline 7 1 The Paradox of Agriculture and its Impact on China and Western Civilization 8 The Oldest Paradox 8 Chinese Agriculture 13 The First Chinese Dynasties 19 Roman Agriculture 30 Italian Agriculture 31 Egypt 37 The Levant and Mesopotamia 41 Greece 43 Overview of the Roman Economy 46 Notes 49 2 Ancient Philosophy: Chinese versus Western 52 The Chinese Quest for Stability 54 Implementing Legalism: Li Si and the Qin Dynasty 65 The Han Dynasty 67 The Greek Worldview: Part One-the Problem 69 The Greek Worldview: Part Two-the Quest for a Solution 71 The Roman Worldview 79 The Kosmopolite 83 C...

List of contents

Acknowledgements ix
 
Preface xi
 
Introduction 1
 
Maps 4
 
Timeline 7
 
1 The Paradox of Agriculture and its Impact on China and Western Civilization 8
 
The Oldest Paradox 8
 
Chinese Agriculture 13
 
The First Chinese Dynasties 19
 
Roman Agriculture 30
 
Italian Agriculture 31
 
Egypt 37
 
The Levant and Mesopotamia 41
 
Greece 43
 
Overview of the Roman Economy 46
 
Notes 49
 
2 Ancient Philosophy: Chinese versus Western 52
 
The Chinese Quest for Stability 54
 
Implementing Legalism: Li Si and the Qin Dynasty 65
 
The Han Dynasty 67
 
The Greek Worldview: Part One--the Problem 69
 
The Greek Worldview: Part Two--the Quest for a Solution 71
 
The Roman Worldview 79
 
The Kosmopolite 83
 
Christianity 84
 
Notes 92
 
3 The Nomads 96
 
Two Incompatible Lifestyles: Nomads versus Farmers 96
 
The Persistent Nomadic Threat, Cannon, and China's Three Main Issues 99
 
The Silk Road: Revelation of a Deadly Paradox of Culture 109
 
Loyalty, the State, and Paradise Lost 112
 
An Era of Chaos 116
 
The Fall of Rome 118
 
Chinese Potential for Reunification versus Western Fragmentation 120
 
Notes 123
 
4 Contrasting Medieval China and Europe 126
 
Unexpected Consequences 126
 
Revisiting the Paradox of Agriculture 128
 
The Sui Dynasty (581-618) 130
 
The Tang Dynasty (618-906) and the Rejuvenation of China 133
 
The Song (960-1279): The Golden Age Continues 140
 
A Nomadic Interlude 145
 
Evolution of Feudalism during the Fall of Rome 149
 
Medieval Agriculture: The Rise of Feudalism 152
 
The Late Middle Ages (1300-1500) 159
 
Contrasting Systems: A Unified China versus a Fragmented Europe 164
 
Notes 165
 
5 China and Medieval Europe: Cultural Orthodoxy and Creativity 169
 
The Economy, Administration, and Formation of a Chinese Orthodoxy 172
 
Foundations of a Medieval European Orthodoxy 180
 
A Revival of Learning: The Medieval Orthodoxy 189
 
Conclusions 203
 
Notes 204
 
6 The Nomad Apogee of Power 207
 
The Paradox of Culture Springs a Trap 207
 
Mongol Conquest and Rule 210
 
The Yuan Dynasty: A Century of Uneven Rule 221
 
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) 223
 
The Qing: The Second Nomadic Regime to Rule China (1644-1911) 231
 
Notes 244
 
7 Modernization 251
 
Germanic Europe during the Early Middle Ages 254
 
China does not Modernize: The Pitfalls of Tradition 286
 
Conclusion 296
 
Notes 297
 
Select Bibliography 301
 
Index 309

Product details

• Authors: Steven Wallech, Steven (Long Beach City College) Wallech, Wallech Steven
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 12.02.2016
• EAN: 9781118880074
• ISBN: 978-1-118-88007-4
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Weltgeschichte, Geschichte, China, Kulturwissenschaften, History, Cultural Studies, westliche Kultur, world history, CE period up to c 1500, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Spezialthemen Geschichte, History Special Topics, Western Culture