Journey at a thrilling clip across the epic history of China--through millennia of early innovation to modern dominance As we enter the Asian Century, China increasingly demands our attention--as an economic powerhouse, a beacon of rapid modernization, and an assertive geopolitical player. Yet, from kung fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, and sages to silk, Chinese philosophy, commerce, and innovation have influenced our world for thousands of years. Linda Jaivin distills Chinas vast history into a short, freshly relevant account that crisscrosses this much-storied land and introduces such unforgettable personalities as: Confucius, intrepid traveler and moral adviserLi Bai, great Tang poet and celebrity of his timeEmpress Dowager Cixi, effective ruler of the Qing for nearly 50 yearsMao Zedong, communist revolutionary and founder of the Peoples Republic Globally minded readers will find everything they need to know about this rising superpower: the rarely told story of women in China, from the earliest warriors to twentieth-century suffragettes; Chinas path from its tribal origins to the modern Communist Party under Xi Jinping; and the historical specters of corruption and disunity that continue to haunt the nation today.