A survey of Chinese imperial history from the Shang dynasty to 1600, this work departs from strict adherence to the dynastic model of Chinese history. Moving ch... » 

A survey of Chinese imperial history from the Shang dynasty to 1600, this work departs from strict adherence to the dynastic model of Chinese history. Moving chronologically, Valerie Hansen focuses on social history, highlighting those periods when China was most open to exchanges with new culture. «