Asia

From one of the world's leading historians?a comprehensivenarrative of the 3,000 years that have formed Asia's people,culture, and global destinyTracing its origins in Mesopotamia to its modern role on theglobal geopolitical stage, historian Arthur Cotterell offers acompelling, lively, and readable account of one of the mostculturally diverse, and often misunderstood, parts of the world.Beginning with the emergence of the world's earliest civilizationin 3000 BC, Asia: A Concise History provides a fascinating look atthe global convulsions?like the rise and fall of Assyria andPersia, the medieval states that flourished after the advent ofIslam, and the modern transformations triggered by the lightningconquests of imperial Japan?that have shaped the continent.* Covers the great events and figures of Asian history, alongwith a look at the monumental remains that bear witness to thosetimes: the ziggurats of Iraq, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall ofChina, the temple of Angkor Wat* Includes fascinating slices of history, including funeralarrangements for Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 BC; an extract from LordMacartney's journal of his 1793 diplomatic mission to the Qingemperor Qian Long; and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's edict of 1587 banningfirearms in Japan* Features boxed inserts of special interest?like a Babylonianrecipe for lamb stew circa 1500 BC* Contains over 100 illustrations, maps, and photos* Other books by Cotterell: The Minoan World, The FirstEmperor of China, The Encyclopedia of Mythology, andChariotDestined to become a reference staple for history buffs andstudents of Asian history, Asia: A Concise History offers readers abreathtaking narrative and wealth of detail that make the formativeperiods, key events, and personalities from this once remote partof the world come alive.