China: a history in objects, hardcover/jessica harrison-hall

This illustrated introduction to the history of China offers a fresh understanding of Chinas progress from the Neolithic age to the present.

Told in six chapters arranged chronologically, through art, artifacts, people, and places, and richly illustrated with expertly selected objects and artworks, it firmly connects todays China with its internationally engaged past.

From the earliest archaeological relics and rituals, through the development of writing and state, to the advent of empire, the author charts Chinas transformation from ancient civilization into the worlds most populous nation and influential economy, offering historical insights and cultural treasures along the way.

This accessible book presents an eclectic mix of materials including Chinese theater, the decorative arts, costume, jewelry, and furniture-making, running through to the most recent diffusion of Chinese culture.