Karl A. Wittfogel
Chinese Society: An Historical Survey
traditional china agrarian society experienced significant development handicraft commerce respect china similar medieval europe certain prehellenistic civilizations northern western mediterranean however western agrarian civilizations ultimately lost societal identity chinese society perpetuated basic features millennia medieval europe saw commercial industrial revolution led rise industrial society traditional china never underwent changes obviously characterizing societal structures enough speak agriculture handicraft trade general must consider ecological institutional setting specific human relations involved operation