{"product_id":"china-in-the-early-bronze-age-shang-civilization-hardcover","title":"China in the Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRobert L. Thorp\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChina in the Early Bronze Age Shang Civilization Robert L. Thorp \"Thorp has packed a massive amount of information in a concise and easily accessible way into well organized chapters. . . . This book is clearly the result of many years of intensive research but appears to the reader to be an effortless achievement.\"--\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies\u003c\/i\u003e One of the great breakthroughs in Chinese studies in the early twentieth century was the archaeological identification of the earliest, fully historical dynasty of kings, the Shang (ca. 1300-1050 B.C.E.). The last fifty years have seen major advances in all areas of Chinese archaeology, but recent studies of the Shang, their ancestors, and their contemporaries have been especially rich. Since the last English-language overview of Shang civilization appeared in 1980, the pace of discovery has quickened. \u003ci\u003eChina in the Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization\u003c\/i\u003e is the first work in twenty-five years to synthesize current knowledge of the Shang for everyone interested in the origins of Chinese civilization. \u003ci\u003eChina in the Early Bronze Age\u003c\/i\u003e traces the development of early Bronze Age cultures in North and Northwestern China from about 2000 B.C.E., including the Erlitou culture (often identified with the Xia) and the Erligang culture. Robert L. Thorp introduces major sites, their architectural remains, burials, and material culture, with special attention to jades and bronze. He reviews the many discoveries near Anyang, site of two capitals of the Shang kings. In addition to the topography of these sites, Thorp discusses elite crafts and devotes a chapter to the Shang cult, its divination practices, and its rituals. The volume concludes with a survey of the late Shang world, cultures contemporary with Anyang during the late second millennium B.C.E. Fully documented with references to Chinese archaeological sources and illustrated with more than one hundred line drawings, \u003ci\u003eChina in the Early Bronze Age\u003c\/i\u003e also includes informative sidebars on related topics and suggested readings. Students of the history and archaeology of early civilizations will find \u003ci\u003eChina in the Early Bronze Age\u003c\/i\u003e the most up-to-date and wide-ranging introduction to its topic now in print. Scholars in Chinese studies will use this work as a handbook and research guide. This volume makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the formative stages of Chinese culture. \u003cb\u003eRobert L. Thorp\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor Emeritus of Chinese Art History and Archaeology at Washington University, St. Louis. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eChinese Art and Culture\u003c\/i\u003e. Encounters with Asia 2005 320 pages 6 x 9 133 illus. ISBN 978-0-8122-3910-2 Cloth $69.95s  45.50 ISBN 978-0-8122-0361-5 Ebook $69.95s  45.50 World Rights Archaeology, Asian Studies Short copy: Students of the history and archaeology of early civilizations will find China in the Early Bronze Age the most up-to-date and wide-ranging introduction to its topic now in print. Scholars in Chinese studies will use this work as a handbook and research guide. For all readers, this volume makes fascinating reading in the formative stages of Chinese culture accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRobert L. Thorp is Professor Emeritus of Chinese Art History and Archaeology at Washington University, St. Louis. He is the author of Chinese Art and Culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 320\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.1 x 9.1 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e December 12, 2005\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42130693554311,"sku":"9780812239102","price":129.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/a4ed5f8a992485a23bb6908feab761c7.webp?v=1732612998","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/china-in-the-early-bronze-age-shang-civilization-hardcover","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}