The Rise of a Great Nation

Why do countries rise to prominence one after another, suddenly becoming unchallenged hegemons? Why have the great powers of history been able to maintain their dominance for only about a century? What patterns and commonalities lie behind this, and what lessons should China learn from them? Today, China's rejuvenation and rise have become undeniable realities attracting worldwide attention. How to draw useful lessons from the rise and fall of the great powers throughout history, and how to follow global trends in pursuit of effective paths to modernization, have become major strategic questions.

With this aim, this book takes a broad view of human civilization and draws on both historical perspective and a global outlook. It examines the rise of world powers since the 15th century, traces and studies their paths to prominence, summarizes the distinctive features and fundamental patterns of their rise, and explores China's strategic choices under new conditions. It seeks to find historical lessons for China's development and contribute to the great goal of national rejuvenation.