
CHINA - BY DEMETRIUS CHARLES BOULGER - WITH A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER OF RECENT EVENTS BY MAYO W. HAZELTINE
I DEDICATE THIS SHORT HISTORY OF CHINA TO SIR HALLIDAY MACARTNEY, K.C.M.G. AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE OF PERSONAL RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ONE WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE RIGHT OF CHINA TO BE TREATED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE WITH THE DIGNITY AND CONSIDERATION THAT BECOME A GREAT EMPIRE. - IF TO LORD MACARTNEY WE OWE THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN AUDIENCE OF THE EMPEROR OF CHINA ON THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THOSE ON WHICH FOREIGN AMBASSADORS ARE RECEIVED AT EUROPEAN COURTS, TO SIR HALLIDAY MACARTNEY A SCION OF THE SAME FAMILY CHINA OWES MUCH OF THE SUCCESS THAT HAS ATTENDED HER DIPLOMACY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES - CHAP. - I. THE EARLY AGES - II. THE FIRST NATIONAL DYNASTY - III. A LONG PERIOD OF DISUNION - IV. THE SUNGS AND THE KINS - V. THE MONGOL CONQUEST OF CHINA - VI. KUBLAI AND THE MONGOL DYNASTY - VII. THE MING DYNASTY - VIII. THE DECLINE OF THE MINGS - IX. THE MANCHU CONQUEST OF CHINA - X. THE FIRST MANCHU RULER - XI. THE EMPEROR KANGHI - XII. A SHORT REIGN AND THE BEGINNING OF A LONG ONE - XIII. KEEN LUNG'S WARS AND CONQUESTS - XIV. THE COMMENCEMENT OF EUROPEAN INTERCOURSE - XV. THE DECLINE OF THE MANCHUS - XVI. THE EMPEROR TAOUKWANG - XVII. THE FIRST FOREIGN WAR - XVIII. TAOUKWANG AND HIS SUCCESSOR - XIX. THE SECOND FOREIGN WAR - XX. THE TAEPING REBELLION - XXI. THE REGENCY - XXII. THE REIGN OF KWANGSU - THE WAR WITH JAPAN AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS - THE FUTURE OF CHINA - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PREFACE
CHAPTER I - THE EARLY AGES
CHAPTER II - THE FIRST NATIONAL DYNASTY
CHAPTER III - A LONG PERIOD OF DISUNION
CHAPTER IV - THE SUNGS AND THE KINS
CHAPTER V - THE MONGOL CONQUEST OF CHINA
CHAPTER VI - KUBLAI AND THE MONGOL DYNASTY
CHAPTER VII - THE MING DYNASTY
The work opens with a sweeping portrait of China as the world’s oldest continuous civilization, tracing its origins back to a time that predates the Egyptian and Assyrian empires. It emphasizes the remarkable stability of language, customs, and governmental ideas that have survived from the age of Confucius to the present. Readers are guided through the rise and fall of early dynasties, the periods of disunion, and the enduring shape of the Middle Kingdom’s core provinces.
The author then turns to more recent centuries, explaining how China’s isolation gave way to diplomatic encounters with Europe in the 19th century. A supplementary chapter recounts the latest developments, from the opening of treaty ports to the pressures of foreign powers in Central and Indo‑China. By linking ancient patterns to modern challenges, the book aims to give English‑speaking readers a clear framework for understanding China’s emerging role on the world stage.
Language
en
Duration
~19 hours (1117K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-10-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1853–1928
A prolific Victorian-era writer on Asia, empire, and international affairs, he turned complex events in China, India, Egypt, and beyond into brisk narrative history for general readers. His books range from political history to biography, including studies of Gordon and Sir Stamford Raffles.
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