This volume covers the period of the height of the Chinese Empire, from the latter part of the Ming Empire, including the war with Korea against Samurai Japan, through the rise of the Manchu dynasty, and the Ching dynasty during which China expanded to her largest ever extent until the eve of the disastrous Opium wars. The authors also examine the effect on China of the influences of the West from the 1840s onwards.

Illustrated by: Christa Hook