Sunset of the Empire

Renowned historian Lei Yi pieces together the fragments of history to depict the twilight of the empire, revealing the developmental logic of the last seventy years of the Qing Dynasty.¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿The period from 1840 to 1911 was an extremely critical turning point in Chinese history. This book delves into the political choices made by the Qing Dynasty in the face of internal troubles and external threats during this era, as well as the underlying dilemmas. By analyzing key historical events such as the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, the Self-Strengthening Movement, and the First Sino-Japanese War, along with pivotal figures like Lin Zexu and Li Hongzhang, the author reveals how the Qing court, due to its rigidity and obstinacy, missed opportunities for reform, ultimately leading to its decline and demise. Yet, even as the empire crumbled, the tireless efforts and urgent calls of pioneers accumulated the momentum for a new dawn. The author excels at excavating historical details, using vivid language to illustrate the broader trends of the times embedded within these historical events.1840-1911¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿