{"product_id":"9781422294512","title":"The History of Modern China","description":"China, whose recorded history extends back several thousand years, was once the most advanced civilization on earth. But after centuries of self-imposed isolation, the so-called Middle Kingdom found itself lagging behind the world's industrialized countries. Defeated militarily by the Western powers and Japan during the second half of the 19th century, China went through a series of reforms and revolutions before the emergence of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Internal political struggles stifled the PRC's development during its early decades, but a reform program that began in the late 1970s has transformed China into an economic powerhouse and an increasingly important player on the international stage. The History of Modern China offers a comprehensive account of China's historical evolution from a prosperous empire to a semi-colonial nation and finally to an independent Communist state. This volume also provides an in-depth analysis of the interplay between China and the outside world, as well as among China's various political forces.","brand":"Mason Crest","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47127001727216,"sku":"9781422294512","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781422294512_p0.jpg?v=1763742538","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781422294512","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}