A history of Chinese civilization / Jacques Gernet ; translated by J.R. Foster and Charles Hartman.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [745]-780) and index.

-- From the archaic monarchy to the centralized state -- Rise, evolution, and decline of the first centralized state -- The Middle Ages -- From the Middle Ages to modern times -- The Chinese 'renaissance' -- From the sinicized empires to the Mongol occupation -- The reign of the autocrats and eunuchs -- Authoritarian paternalism -- From decline to takeover -- China crucified -- A new chapter in Chinese history: the People's Republic of China.

When published in 1982, this translation of Professor Jacques Gernet's masterly survey of the history and culture of China was immediately welcomed by critics and readers. This revised and updated edition makes it more useful for students and for the general reader concerned with the broad sweep of China's past. Written with an elegant and flowing narrative, the essential virtue of Jacques Gernet's book is to see the history of Chinese civilization as a whole. Yet within the synthesis of the trends - social, political, religious, scientific, artistic - that make up China's past and present, the author never loses sight of the telling detail that brings history to life. A History of Chinese Civilization is illustrated by a wide range of photographs, many maps, line drawings and tables. A detailed and updated chronological table and full bibliography complement the text and the expanded index now includes Chinese characters.