{"title":"Gregory Smits","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the intriguing world of East Asian history with the works of Gregory Smits, a renowned scholar and author. Specialising in the history and culture of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, Smits offers a unique perspective that combines meticulous research with engaging narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his notable work, \u003cem\u003eThe Ryukyu Islands\u003c\/em\u003e, Smits delves deep into the historical significance and cultural richness of this fascinating archipelago. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay of historical forces that shaped the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history enthusiast or a student of military strategy and cultural studies, Gregory Smits' collection provides valuable insights and detailed accounts that enrich your understanding of East Asia's past. Discover his works to expand your knowledge and appreciation of a region with a unique and compelling history.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-ryukyu-islands-by-gregory-smits-9780226843216","title":"The Ryukyu Islands","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe first comprehensive history of the Ryukyu Islands region in English.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Ryukyu Islands\u003c\/em\u003e between Japan and Taiwan consist of around 160 islands and host over one and a half million inhabitants. Across the islands' history, sea-lanes and trade patterns have connected them to the East China Sea region, giving them a unique vantage point on the region's changes and making them a useful lens through which to view and understand those transformations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, Gregory Smits marshals his expertise to canvass the environmental, political, and social history of this fascinating area, emphasizing the diversity of influences from China, Japan, and Korea that have shaped it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSmits begins by tracing the islands' early history from the time of the oldest extant human remains, through massive inflows of population from Japan, until the emergence of a centralized state in the sixteenth century. He then traces the development of the Ryukyu Kingdom from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, illustrating its defining cultural forms and the ways they were shaped by Chinese and Japanese influences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, Smits ushers readers to the modern era, from the end of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879 through WWII, the era of American military control, and on to the present. He concludes with their present-day status as a tourist destination affected by ongoing geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSynthesizing decades of research, this book is an indispensable, comprehensive guide to the islands' history for scholars and nonspecialists alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47031893950700,"sku":"9780226843216","price":66.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20660443482268.jpg?v=1764151281"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/gregory-smits.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}