Series: Brief History Of Asia Series

A Brief History of Japan by Jonathan Clements is a captivating exploration of Japan's rich tapestry of history. From the era of ancient teenage priest-queens to the bustling modern age of salarymen, Clements weaves an engaging narrative that takes readers through the myriad transformations of a nation that once aspired to conquer China yet later chose to seclude itself from...

The fascinating account of two former British colonies with a shared past but vastly different identities today! Singapore and Malaysia sit astride the sea lanes linking East with West — vital choke points in the world's commerce. Since ancient times, ports along the Silk Road of the Sea were populated by peoples from around the globe who came here to...

For millennia, China was the largest and richest nation on earth. Two centuries ago, however, its economy sank into a depression from which it had not fully recovered—until now. China's modern resurgence as the world's largest nation in terms of population and its second-largest economy—where 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the space of a few...

Korean culture developed on a 600-mile-long peninsula, bordered on the north by mountains and three sides by the sea, set apart from the Asian mainland. Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the...

A Brief History of Indonesia: Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of the World's Largest Archipelago Indonesia is by far the largest nation in Southeast Asia and one of the largest countries in the world, ranking fourth in terms of population. Indonesian history and culture are especially relevant today as the island nation emerges as a power in the...

Thailand is known for its picturesque beaches and famous temples, but there's much more to this popular holiday destination than many realise. A Brief History of Thailand offers an engaging look at the country's last 250 years—from coups and violent massacres to the invention of Pad Thai in the 1930s. Readers will learn the vibrant story of Thailand's emergence as...

A comprehensive guide to understanding Vietnam's long and tumultuous history. A Brief History of Vietnam explores the turbulent history of a land that has risen from the ashes of war to become the newest Asian tiger economy. This book expertly examines the history of a people and a nation with ancient roots, which only took its current shape in the...