Overview

First published in 1954, Introduction to the Economic History of China is a pioneering study of a subject largely unexplored by Western scholarship at the time. Professor Kirby examines key periods in Chinese history, identifying critical issues for further study and evaluating source materials. His analysis offers a vivid portrayal of China’s historical development and its broader impact on Asian societies. Notably, Kirby provides a critical assessment of Marxism’s global relevance. Drawing on sources from the Far East, the West, and Russia, this original and lucid work remains an indispensable resource for scholars of Chinese economic history.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rupert Lodge
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781041339731

ISBN 10:   1041339739
Pages:   318
Publication Date:   30 May 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 1. Preface: The Problems and the Danger 2. A Formative Period in Chinese Historiography 3. The Deep Roots of Chinese Marxism 4. The Foundations of Chinese History 5. The Progress of Thought, in China and Abroad 6. The First Dynasties 7. The Age of Confucius and the Classics 8. The First Unification of China: Its Political and Social Background 9. The Great Han Empire 10. China and Asia in the Middle Ages 11. The Meaning of the ‘Middle Ages’ 12. From Han to T’ang: Chinese Society in the Third to the Sixth Centuries 13. Northern and Southern Dynasties 14. Basic Problems of T'ang Society 15. The Great T’ang Empire 16. The Five Dynasties and the Rise of Sung 17. Traitors and Aliens: The Fall of the Sung and the Mongol Occupation 18. Antecedents of the Modern Period 19. The Manchus and the Moderns Appendix: Chinese References Index

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