Eminently accessible, yet rigorous, this engaging introduction to the political, social, and cultural development of Chinese civilization tells the story of China - from its beginnings to the present day - in a way that goes far beyond simple, misleading accounts of a glorious civilization falling victim and Western and Japanese imperialism or of a supposedly isolated country only recently and reluctantly opening to the outside world. Characteristic of Harold Tanner's presentation is the development and carefully balanced recounting of important themes - such as the ethnic diversity of the early empires, interaction with other civilizations, and the challenge of transforming a multi-ethnic empire into a modern nation-state - that other histories of China omit entirely or discuss only minimally.