A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations
Books / Paperback
ISBN: 0534643078 / Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, July 2005
Schirokauer (Columbia U.) has now combined efforts with three other East Asia specialists Brown (U. of Michigan), Lurie (Columbia U.), and Gay (Oberlin College) to produce the revised, third edition of this full-color survey textbook. The authors offer students an introduction to the economic and political history of China and Japan, as well as the social structure, philosophy, religion, art, and literature. Specific revisions in content from the second to third edition are not stated. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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This full-color introductory text emphasizes cultural history while also covering political and economic history. Each major Chinese dynasty, Japanese Shogunate, or other discrete period is covered in a separate, brief chapter. Encounters with the West (beginning in the 16th century) are also extensively covered. In addition to Conrad Schirokauer, this text has three new co-authors. Miranda Brown teaches in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and focuses on early Chinese culture. David Lurie researches the history of writing systems in Japan and also works on the cultural and intellectual history of Japan through the Heian period. Suzanne Gay is Professor of East Asian Studies at Oberlin College. Her research interests include the social and economic history of medieval Japan, with a particular emphasis on the role of commoners in history. This author team combines strong research with extensive classroom teaching experience to offer a clear, consistent, and highly readable text accessible to students with no previous knowledge of the history of China or Japan.
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