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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...
