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Description of  Chinese History and Civilisation: An Urban Perspective

The emergence of the city marks the beginning of a civilisation. The city, especially the leading cities of a country, is also where the major features of a country are contained and where historical events play out. This book introduces readers to the progress of China's civilisation over more than 5000 years of history, through the rise and development of its cities.From the prehistoric Yangshuo and Longshan periods all the way to the People's Republic, this book outlines major events and developments to highlight the evolution of the Chinese civilisation. Using historical dynasties and urban dynamics as vertical dimensions, it examines major historical events, economic developments, territorial changes, and other developments over China's long history. It also discusses the uniqueness of China's history and compares its civilisations to Western experiences. Contents: About the Author Preface Introduction: Civilisation, City, History, and Chinese Characteristics China's Urban Civilisation: Origin and Stages of Development From Village to Proto-cities of Late Yangshao Period Longshan: Early City-states Xia Dynasty: Civilisation in the Early Bronze Age Shang Urbanism at the Climax of Bronze Metallurgy Matured Canons, Laws, and Institutions: Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Qin and Han: Centralised Territorial State and the Administrative City Tang: Golden Age of the Confucian Model Song Renaissance and the New Urbanity Ming Dynasty: Reconstruction of Chinese Civilisation after the Yuan Qing China: From Neo-Confucianism to Confrontation with the West People's Republic: Chinese Civilisation with Socialist Approach Message from the Evolution of China's Urban Civilisation References Index