China

Jonathan Fenby looks at a brief experiment in Chinese democracy, brought to an end by political assassination.

2000 years ago, writes William Y. Willetts, magnificent Silks from China began to reach the wealthy families of Rome.

Chinese Governments are notoriously difficult in their relations with Europe. G.H.L. LeMay gives a chastening account of two early British attempts to get into diplomatic touch with Pekin.

Raymond Dawson reflects on 2,000 years of historical composition in China, beginning with Ssu-ma Ch’ien.

Gyanesh Kudaisya considers how the Sino-Indian war of 1962 has shaped relations between Asia’s two largest nations.

The cityscapes of the world’s most populous nation are expanding at a bewildering rate. But China’s current embrace of urban life has deep roots in its past, as Toby Lincoln explains.

Japan flexed its muscles and launched a full-scale invasion of China following an incident on July 7th, 1937.

The wars of 1839-42 and 1856-60 are a perfect case study of the divergence of opinion that the British Empire continues to generate.

Jonathan Fenby on the long history behind the rapid demise of one of the brightest lights in China’s political firmament.