Chinese History

Chinese history in this collection begins with the problem of unification. It follows the transition from the rival states of ancient China to the Qin Empire, then into the Han dynasty and the creation of a more durable imperial system. The episodes are arranged in chronological order, so each stage builds on the one before it.

From there, the collection explores how imperial rule developed through administration, ideology, expansion, and the challenge of governing an enormous and diverse territory. The Qin and Han episodes show both the power of centralization and the difficulty of making a new political order last.

The story then moves into the Mongol era, when China became part of a much wider Eurasian world shaped by conquest, trade, migration, and long-distance travel. This period connects Chinese history to the broader movements of people and ideas across Asia and Europe.

The collection closes in twentieth-century China, where foreign invasion and war bring the country into another period of profound crisis. Together, these episodes offer a long view of Chinese history through unification, empire, exchange, and conflict.