China Condensed: 5,000 Years of History and CultureAbout four to five thousand years ago, the fertile plains of the Yellow River basin gave rise to Chinese civilization. Over the millennia, this civilization evolved into one of the worlds great cultures. This book offers a quick introduction to China, with the main focus on its long history. Readers are guided through the dynasties and the major developments shaping Chinas arts, culture, philosophy, religion, language and literature. Spanning five