Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780231110044)

Containing more information on Asian culture than any other English-language reference work, Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture is the first of its kind: a set of more than thirty chronologies for all the countries of Asia--East, South, Southeast, and Central--from the Paleolithic era through 1998. Each entry is clearly dated and, unlike most chronologies found in standard history texts, the entries are complete and detailed enough to provide virtually a sequential history of the vast and rich span of Asian cultures. The contributing writers and editors have ensured the book's usefulness to general readers by identifying individuals and groups, locating places and regions, explaining events and movements, and defining unfamiliar words and concepts.

The thirty-two chronologies on individual countries, in conjunction with a detailed index, allow readers to find specific information quickly and efficiently, whether they seek the date for the invention of the iron plow or gunpowder, the fall of the Han Dynasty in China, or Ho Chi Minh's declarations of Vietnamese independence. This invaluable reference culminates with three appendices: "National/Independence Days," "Scientific-Technological Achievements in Asia," and "Asia: A Chronological Overview," which provides an accessible summary of key events and developments in various fields of activity throughout the continent.

The Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture features:

- three discrete chronologies on (1) Politics/History, (2) Art/Culture/Religion, and (3) Science/Economics/Everyday Life for each of Asia's three major cultures--China, India, and Japan--as well as a combined chronology for each of the other nations;

- detailed entries of thousands of historical events as well as important milestones in religion, philosophy, literature, and the arts;

- entries on technological developments and natural events (famines, floods, etc.) affecting the lives of ordinary people; and

- authoritative and accessibly written entries by a team of Asian scholars from Columbia, Harvard, and other major research universities.

Beyond its detailed accounting of Asia's political history, Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture also gives full recognition to religious, intellectual, artistic, and general cultural achievements, as well as to scientific, technological, industrial, agricultural, and economic developments. Concise yet complete, it will stand as an indispensable reference work in the field of Asian studies.

Author: John Bowman
ISBN-10: 0231110049
ISBN-13: 9780231110044
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Language: English
Published: 08/24/2000
Pages: 776
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 3.48lbs
Size: 10.22h x 7.29w x 2.20d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 11/01/2000 pg. 66
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2000 pg. 28
Booklist 02/01/2001 pg. 1068
Choice 04/01/2001 pg. 1446
Univ PR Books for Public Libry 01/01/2001 pg. 87 - Strongly Recommended
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/2002 pg. 202
Rec Ref Bks for Small/Med Libr 01/01/2002 pg. 89