For the Chinese, the drive toward growing political and economic power
is part of an ongoing effort to restore China's past greatness and
remove the lingering memories of history's humiliations. This widely
praised book explores the 1500-1800 period before China's decline, when
the country was viewed as a leading world culture and power. D. E.
Mungello argues that this earlier era, ironically, may contain more
relevance for today than the more recent past. This fully revised fourth
edition retains the clear and concise quality of its predecessors, while
drawing on a wealth of new research on Sino-Western history and the
increasing contributions of Chinese historians. Building on the author's
decades of research and teaching, this compelling book illustrates the
vital importance of history to readers trying to understand China's
renewed rise.