Overview
This engaging text provides a concise history of Korea from the beginning of human settlement in the region through the late nineteenth century. Its thorough chronological narrative equally emphasizes social, cultural, and political history. Students will be especially drawn to descriptions of everyday life for both elite and nonelite members of society during various historical periods. A Concise History of Korea emphasizes how Korean history can be understood as part of an interactive sphere that includes three basic areas: China, Japan, and the Manchurian/Central Asian region. Throughout the book, comparisons are drawn between developments in Korea and those in neighboring regions, especially China and Japan. Michael Seth synthesizes recent scholarship to provide a straightforward understanding of Korean history, also addressing important historiographical issues in an accessible, nontechnical manner. Historical maps illustrate the changes in the region over time. The annotated bibliography of works in English is a useful addition for students, who will find this book to be a clear and comprehensive Korean history.
Synopsis
This engaging text provides a concise history of Korea from the beginning of human settlement in the region through the late nineteenth century, equally emphasizing social, cultural, and political history. Students will be especially drawn to descriptions of everyday life for both elite and non-elite members of society during various historical periods. A Concise History of Korea emphasizes how Korean history can be understood as part of an interactive sphere that includes three basic areas: China, Japan, and the Manchurian/Central Asian region. Historical maps illustrate the changes in the region over time. The annotated bibliography of works in English is a useful addition to this clear and comprehensive Korean history.
Editorials
CHOICE
[This book is] sufficiently long and detailed to provide adequate coverage for college-level courses and general readers who want to know more about Korean history, but also short enough to be accessible to even the busiest of readers. Highly recommended.Resources
Exceptional and in many ways tops nearly every chronological narrative I have read on Korean history and culture. His book provides an appreciation of the remarkable durability and stability of pre-modern Korea, a foundation for understanding modern Korea, and, more than any other source, an understanding of Korea's distinctive culture. . . . Seth's knowledge of and passion for Korea, broader perspectives acquired from being a scholar of East Asian history, and a considerable gift for writing make the book a great read. The author is able to draw comparisons between developments in Korea and those in neighboring regions, especially China and Japan. Remarkable in his ability to clearly explain details of Korean history without overburdening the reader, Seth also elucidates the web that connects these facts with the present .— Mary Connor