· Discusses the wars, occupations and uprisings that marked the period, including the Boxer Rebellion and the Japanese occupation and includes a new chapter on postwar China and the Civil War
· Examines nation-building and revolutions, including the successful communist movement that has led to the rise of today’s state
· Acknowledges the prevalence of poverty and famine in the period but also gives space to the areas in which there was progress: the introduction of mass, secular education, improvements in the status of women, and in a new chapter, details significant developments in culture, literature and theatre
Written in an accessible style, with a rich collection of Documents, Chronology, Glossary, a Guide to Further Reading,and a Who’s Who summarising the careers and contributions of the main figures, this new edition is essential for all those interested in understanding China’s modern history.
Colin Mackerras is a professor emeritus in the Department of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University, Queensland. He has written eleven single-authored books about China. He won a Centenary Medal, awarded by the Governor-General of Australia in April 2003 and was appointed an officer in the Order of Australia (AO)in the Queen’s Birthday honours list of June 2007, in both cases for his contribution to education and for his work in Australia-China relations.