A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century

by Charles Holcombe

Overview

The third edition of this ambitious book begins by asking: What is East Asia? Today, many of the features that made the region distinct have been submerged under revolution, politics, or globalization. Yet in ancient times, what we now think of as China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam had both historical and cultural coherence. Thoroughly revised and updated to include recent developments in East Asian politics, with new illustrations and suggestions for further reading, this book traces the story of East Asia from the dawn of history to the modern age. New discussion questions at the end of each chapter encourage readers to reflect, while a glossary, pronunciation guide, and parallel timeline enable a closer engagement with this complex subject. Charles Holcombe is an experienced and sure-footed guide who encapsulates, in a fast-moving and colorful narrative, the connections, commonalities, and differences of one of the most remarkable regions on earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009504805
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/05/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Charles Holcombe is Professor of History at the University of Northern Iowa. Having spent a year researching Six Dynasties China at Kyōto University in Japan, his awakening interest in East Asian interconnections led him to write The Genesis of East Asia, 221 BC–AD 907 (2001). He won the Regents' Award for Faculty Excellence at the University of Northern Iowa (2007).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; List of maps; Pronunciation guide; Timeline; Glossary; Preface to the third edition; Introduction: what is East Asia?; 1. The origins of civilization in East Asia; 2. The formative era; 3. The age of cosmopolitanism; 4. The creation of a community: China, Korea, and Japan (seventh-tenth centuries); 5. Mature independent trajectories (tenth-sixteenth centuries); 6. Early modern East Asia (sixteenth-eighteenth centuries); 7. Dai Viet (Vietnam before the nineteenth centuries); 8. The nineteenth-century encounter of civilizations; 9. The age of Westernization (1900–1929); 10: The dark valley (1930–1945); 11. Cold War East Asia; 12. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Overseas Chinese; 13. Globalization, and the resurgence of East Asia; Character list; Notes; Index.

Editorial Reviews

‘Finally, a textbook that makes sense of 2,000 years of East Asian history in a coherent, comprehensive, and easy-to-read narrative. This finely written book is the ideal introduction to the complex history of the peoples, religions, civilizations, and countries that make up today’s dynamic region of East Asia.’ Patrick Jory, University of Queensland, Australia

‘The new edition of Holcombe’s book masterfully balances comprehensiveness with clarity. With up-to-date research and an engaging narrative, it makes the complex histories of East Asia accessible, captivating both students and scholars. This is an essential resource for understanding the region's rich past and dynamic present.’ Gilbert Chen, Towson University, USA

‘The third edition of A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century gives an accurate and comprehensive account of a wide variety of historical and modern developments in the region. It is indispensable reading for anyone interested in East Asia. I strongly recommend it.’ Gabriel Jonsson, Stockholm University, Sweden

‘A History of East Asia is consummate scholarship that is beautifully written, meticulously organized for educators, handy for researchers, and accessible to university students and general readers. Holcombe’s updates and discussion questions in the third edition are especially helpful for teachers, while new readers will find a perfect entry point to learn about East Asia’s past and present.’ Gregory Evon, University of New South Wales, Australia

‘Holcombe’s text remains the best work on the subject for university students. Holcombe writes with compelling ease about topics as wide-ranging as Bronze Age Sichuan and K-pop outfit BTS’s recent global domination. Through it all, he wrestles with and builds a strong case for East Asia as a region worth ongoing attention and study.’ Jeff Kyong-McClain, University of Idaho, USA

‘Holcombe presents an integrated narrative of East Asian history in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It focuses on a shared East Asian culture and experience but balances this focus vis-à-vis the distinctiveness of its national and regional components. It is an excellent survey, accessible for the novice and illuminating for the specialist.’ Jon Felt, Brigham Young University, USA

‘A concise yet well-integrated narrative of East Asia that introduces readers to the complexities of the region's past and present. Coverage of key events of the early 2020s and discussion questions are a welcome addition in the third edition. A History of East Asia is well suited to self-study and highly recommended for introductory classes on East Asian history.’ Jeong Min Kim, University of Manitoba, Canada

From the Publisher