It is common to think of the history of STEM as a succession of great names, moving in a direct line from Archimedes to Isaac Newton to Einstein. China will offer more than enough brilliant figures for us to admire, but that will not be the entire story. Many of China's inventions evolved over great time scales, spread by diffusion, and were anonymously perfected over time. As China's fortunes rose and fell through the centuries, geniuses in science, politics, and warfare would alternate with unknown inventors and workers solving problems. People would debate the most virtuous way to run a state, or simply seize it outright. People discussed China's place in the world, the citizen's role in the country, and the natural world's place in the cosmos. Each of these questions spurred people to discover and invent with STEM--and in the process, shape China's destiny. Provided by publisher.

Early Chinese culture and the struggle for unification -- Qin and Han centralization and glory -- Sui and Tang public works and commerce -- The Song dynasty goes to sea -- A Mongol dynasty, overthrows and contacts -- Ming and Ching dynasties lose footing in the new world economy.