A History of East Asia : From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century

A concise and comprehensive introduction to China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam from the dawn of history to the present day, emphasizing connections, commonalities, and differences. The third edition includes important developments over the last decade, restructured post-World War II material, new illustrations and references, and discussion questions.

The third edition of this ambitious book begins by asking, what is East Asia? Today, many of the features that made the region distinct have been submerged under revolution, politics, or globalization. Yet in ancient times, what we now think of as China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam had both historical and cultural coherence. Thoroughly revised and updated to include recent developments in East Asian politics, with new illustrations and suggestions for further reading, this book traces the story of East Asia from the dawn of history to the modern age. New discussion questions at the end of each chapter encourage readers to reflect, while a glossary, pronunciation guide, and parallel timeline enable a closer engagement with this complex subject. Charles Holcombe is an experienced and sure-footed guide who encapsulates, in a fast-moving and colourful narrative, the connections, commonalities, and differences of one of the most remarkable regions on earth.