Ancient China Simplified

Parker, Edward Harper, 1849-1926Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 645K words
Chapters: 65

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Ancient China Simplified by Edward Harper ParkerAuthor: Parker, Edward Harper, 1849-1926,Language: English, Class: DS: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Asia, Release Date: Oct 1, 2004

Editor's review

This book is a general survey of ancient Chinese history written by the British sinologist Edward Harper Parker for general readers in the early twentieth century, one of the early popular works in which Western scholars systematically introduced Chinese history. Its strengths lie in a clear narrative thread and short chapters, setting out the historical sequence from high antiquity to the Qing dynasty in plain English, which helps non-specialist readers quickly build a chronological framework; at the same time it preserves the perspective and terminological habits of Western observers from a century ago, giving it documentary value for readers studying the history of sinology and Sino-Western intellectual exchange. It should be noted that some of its views and periodization now appear outdated, and certain judgments carry the prejudices of their time; it is not to be relied on as the sole basis for studying ancient Chinese history today. It is best read as a specimen of historical writing: look at what it says, but also at how and why it says it. Reading it alongside a modern general history works best.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want a quick English overview of the sequence of ancient Chinese history
Readers interested in early Western sinological works and Sino-Western intellectual exchange
English learners who need a concise English history reader for reading practice
Scholars in the history of sinology or translation history who need the original text for reference

Not a good fit for

Readers who need to study ancient Chinese history on the basis of the latest archaeology and research
Professional historians seeking in-depth institutional analysis or monographic research
Readers sensitive to the biased statements reflecting the early twentieth-century Western perspective

Reading tips

Read the table of contents first to establish the dynastic framework, then proceed chapter by chapter rather than skipping around
After each chapter, summarize the main points in one sentence to help build an overall timeline
Read alongside a modern general history and note views in the book that are now outdated
Pay attention to the author's wording and judgments, taking notes as material for the history of sinology

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no background in history?

It is fairly suitable as an English introductory reader. The narrative is concise and the chapters are short, helping readers build a basic framework of dynastic change. But the views date from an early period and some content is outdated; reading it alongside a modern general history is recommended.

Are the historical facts in the book still reliable today?

The basic outline is largely usable, but specific judgments, periodization and details are limited by the research conditions of the early twentieth century and differ from current scholarly understanding; some statements carry the prejudices of their time. It is best read as a specimen of historical writing, not as an authoritative source.

Why is it said to have value for the history of sinology?

The author, Parker, was a British sinologist of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The book reflects how Western scholars of the time organized Chinese history, what they focused on and their narrative tone, and can serve readers studying Sino-Western intellectual exchange and the development of sinology as a primary text for reference.

What should be noted when reading the electronic edition?

This edition is a public-domain electronic text from Project Gutenberg, with no modern annotations or maps, and proper names follow older conventions of transcription. Readers may wish to have maps and modern reference works at hand and check unfamiliar place names and personal names first.

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About the author

Parker, Edward Harper, 1849-1926 Author · British · 1849–1926

Parker, Edward Harper (1849–1926) was a British sinologist who devoted sustained attention to Chinese history, language, and frontier questions. His research interests spanned both the institutional traditions of the Central Plains dynasties and the peoples, geography, and political changes of China's border regions, reflecting the scholarly orientation of British sinology in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which combined language training with historical criticism. The library holds one work by him, Ancient China Simplified, which outlines the broad course of early Chinese history in a concise style. Aimed at general readers, it introduces dynastic succession, social structure, and cultural tradition, with clear prose that emphasizes the overall picture rather than detailed textual research. Parker's writing thus balances scholarship and readability, offering English-speaking readers an introductory reference for understanding Chinese history and culture. Because public information is limited, the full picture of his life and academic activities remains to be further verified.