Clear, vivid, and focused on the essentials, Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer guides readers through the millennia-long history of China, from prehistoric beginnings to the immediate present. Numerous maps illuminate the vast empire, and colorful, thoroughly explained illustrations provide a sensory impression of Chinese history and culture. This illustrated history of China is written from a contemporary perspective and traces the important millennia-long history that is significant for the self-understanding of today's China. Special attention is given to the fundamental lines and dynamics of political developments in this vast cultural area, where a quarter of humanity lives today. The achievements and successes of this culture, which was at the forefront of world cultures as recently as the 18th century, are depicted as vividly as the slow awakening.