The Chinese Revolution in Historical Perspective

Abstract

This fully updated second edition provides a succinct and self-contained history of China. The text emphasizes the relationship between China's modern era and its past, employing a unique approach that presents the story in terms of traditional Chinese historical theories. When the West enters the scene in modern times, Schrecker fits its impact into the Chinese story, rather than the reverse, as is commonly done. This study demonstrates that traditional China was not homogeneous or changeless, thus offering a much-needed corrective to common stereotypes about other cultures that is essential for both classroom use and for the general reader. The Chinese Revolution in Historical Perspective, available here in a fully updated second edition, provides a succinct and self-contained history of China. The text emphasizes the relationship between China's modern era and its past, employing a unique approach that presents the story in terms of traditional Chinese historical theories. When the West enters the scene in modern times, Schrecker fits its impact into the Chinese story, rather than the reverse, as is commonly done. This study demonstrates that traditional China was not homogeneous or changeless, thus offering a much-needed corrective to common stereotypes about other cultures that is essential for both classroom use and for the general reader. Schrecker's approach permits a full appreciation of the connections between the contemporary scene and the Chinese past—an appreciation that is increasingly important as China moves away from typical Communist practices and returns to more traditional Chinese patterns—for example, recreating a lively entrepreneurial economy of the sort that characterized China for a thousand years. This edition brings China's story up to the present. An additional preface and map are included, along with an updated bibliography and supplemental notes. A new appendix details the traditional understanding of the key Chinese historiographical terms used in the book.