Early Modern Classicism and Late Imperial China

Elman, B.A. (2007)

Article / Letter to editor

Most historians treat late imperial China, 1400-1900, as a time of fading and decay. Indeed, viewed backwards from the Opium War (1839-1842) and Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), events before 1800 appear to have left China unprepared for modernity. But the 17th and 18th centuries can be considered not only as a 'late imperial' prelude to the end of traditional China, but as an 'early modern' harbinger of things to come.

• History
• Modernity
• China

• All authors: Elman, B.A.
• Date: 2007
• Publisher: IIAS, Leiden