Audiobook A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]

The book presents a comprehensive history of China from its earliest prehistoric cultures through the Middle Ages, offering a sociological and cultural analysis rather than a mere dynastic chronicle. Eberhard challenges traditional Eurocentric and pro-Chinese biases, demonstrating that Chinese civilization was not created by a single isolated race, but resulted from a long, complex amalgamation of many distinct peoples, including Turks, Mongols, Tibetans, and various indigenous groups. The author traces the progression from early neolithic cultures through the feudal epoch of the Chou dynasty, the rise of the Contending States, the bureaucratic centralization of the Ch'in, and the establishment of the gentry-state under the Han dynasty. Throughout the text, Eberhard emphasizes underlying economic shifts, land systems, and technological changes rather than simply enumerating emperors and military campaigns.

He explores the origins of foundational philosophies like Confucianism and Taoism, showing how they served the interests of specific social classes, particularly the rising gentry. The narrative also covers the turbulent periods of northern nomadic incursions and the division of China into separate northern and southern kingdoms, highlighting the continuous cultural and military interchange between Chinese farmers and northern pastoral nomads. The volume concludes by laying the groundwork for understanding how these foundational centuries shaped the enduring social order and political structures of traditional China.