Svila, zmajevi i papir: Kineska civilizacija, kultura, arheologija i povijest [Silk, Dragons and Paper: Chinese Civilization, Culture and History]

Abstract

The book Silk, Dragons and Paper, further explained by the subtitle Chinese Civilization, Culture, History and Archaeology, analyzes and describes China’s past from the advent of the first man and the Paleolithic to the end of imperial China in the 20th century. Chinese civilization in its long duration has bestowed us with many inventions that we use today in everyday life, such as paper, silk, paper money, gunpowder, tea, compass, and many other things. The Croatian language knows words such as „tea” [čaj], „pingpong” [ping-pong], „typhoon” [tajfun] that originate from the Chinese language. After the introduction and a brief description of geographical features, in which we briefly presented inhabitants, area, borders and neighboring countries, relief (waters, mountains, valleys, deserts, etc.), administrative division, basic features of economy and demography of today’s People’s Republic of China, three main parts, which offer a chronologically and thematically overview the Chinese past and remnants of the past, follow. In the first part, entitled An Overview of the History of China, we gave a concise account of the past which spans from the first people of the Paleolithic until the end of Imperial China (1912). While writing, we paid special attention to social processes, political changes, similarities, and differences which existed between separate dynasties. The second part, entitled Chinese Archaeology: From the Beginnings to the Challenges of the 21st Century offers basic information about the Chinese beginnings of interest of the past, the scientific pursuit of archeology and history, the first findings and the founding of the first scientific institutions in China. In the last major part, entitled Sino-European contacts, we indicated the most important contacts between China and the West over the past, focusing most on the exchange of ideas, knowledge, goods and people. In addition, special attention was paid to Croatian and Southeast European relations with China through cultural contacts and exchanges, the Silk Road and Marco Polo. Altogether, the book is divided into thirty-eight sections which follow Chinese history, archaeology, geography, artistic achievements, philosophy, religion, social processes, and political change. In addition, the chapters were followed by learning outcomes, each concluded with selected literature. This publication ends with chronological tables of dynasties and rulers, a glossary, an index of geographical phrases and personal names, and a very extensive bibliography of historical sources, books and articles in English, Chinese and Croatian languages.