title: East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute (Contemporary Asia in the World)
author: David Kang
description: By researching the full range of China's relationships, including Southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan, as well as nomadic troubles, David C. Kang balances the perspective of the whole regional picture. A remarkable achievement. (Brantly Womack, University of Virginia)<br /><br />In a fascinating and deeply illuminating sequel to his acclaimed China Rising, David C. Kang challenges the Eurocentric bias of American and European theories of international relations. With apologies to Rudyard Kipling, Kang's main message is that 'East is East and West is West and sometimes the twain shall meet,' and he delivers it through smart arguments, great imagination, and compelling historical synthesis. All serious students of international relations, from both East and West, will have to come to terms with Kang's provocative arguments. (Peter Katzenstein, Cornell University)<br /><br />David C. Kang has written a concise, well-judged, and most useful analysis of the historical East Asian international system and its three principles of hierarchy, status, and hegemony. In so doing, he demolishes the American discourse of 'realism,' which assumes that all states on the planet behave in the same way. With a plethora of books on 'the rise of China,' Kang's study is also essential reading for understanding the formation of the East Asian system, its contemporary functioning, and the arc of its future. (Bruce Cumings, University of Chicago, author of <i>Dominion From Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power</i>)<br /><br />Important in maintaining the ongoing discussion on whether or not there is something distinctive about interstate conduct in East Asia... immensely enjoyable and informative in its rich historical detail. (Oliver Hensengerth <i>International Affairs</i>)<br /><br />His study assuredly renews the debate on a contested topic in both East Asian and global history. Highly recommended. (<i>Choice</i>)<br /><br />This is a brilliant book, rare for a political scientists, and a must-read for experts and the general public alike. (<i>Survival</i>)<br /><br />Consistently intelligent... [<i>East Asia Before the West</i>] is one of the most stimulating books to appear in the past decade. (Valerie Hansen <i>H-Asia</i>)<br /><br /><i>East Asia Before the West</i> is an elegant mixture of political science and history.Global Asia (John Delury <i>Global Asia</i>)<br /><br />In his micro analysis, Kang has offered a provocative thesis, which will stimulate much analysis and discussion of traditional foreign relations in East Asia. (Morris Rossabi <i>Political Science Quarterly</i>)<br /><br />I recommend to anyone with a shaky grasp of East Asian history...quite a thoughtful book, and well worth your time (Stephen M. Walt "A Realist in an Ideological Age" <i>Foreign Policy Blog</i>)
zlib_text: 500
  c. 600 
  Silk Road trade 
  flourishes during  
  Tang dynasty
  900
  700
  THE WORLD
  MAKING CONNECTIONS 
  How does architecture 
  record history?
  Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on its flag. First 
  built by the Khmer as a Hindu temple, it has served as a Buddhist 
  shrine since the fourteenth century. Although most of the walls have 
  carvings of Hindu stories, there are images of the Buddha. In this 
  chapter you will learn about the changes in the Asian world. 
  •  How does the architecture in your city or state relate to 
  its history? 
  •  Which structures have been changed based on their use?
  ASIA
  Section 1 China Reunified
  Section 2 The Mongols and China
  Section 3 Early Japan and Korea
  Section 4 India After the Guptas
  Section 5 Civilization in Southeast Asia 
  The Asian World  400 –1500 
  565
  Roman Emperor 
  Justinian dies
  c. 800
  Maya civilization 
  declines
  802
  Jayavarman II 
  unites Khmer
  of Angkor
  c. 1000
  Chinese invent 
  movable type
  262
  Werner Forman/Art Resource, NY,  Stuart Dee