From Imperial China (1644-1911) through Republican China (1912-1949) to the People's Republic of China (1949-2000), Worthing (history, Texas Christian U.) traces the role of warfare in shaping modern China. Beginning with an overview of military developments up to the Ming dynasty, he describes pivotal forces including the Manchu conquest of China, defeat in the Anglo- Chinese Wars, the 1911 Revolution, early attempts at military modernization, and the quest for a modern political state set back by its response to the 1989 student demonstrations. Maps situate some of the conflicts, but a timeline would have been useful. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)