Britain and the People's Republic of China established full diplomatic relations on March 13, 1972. Britain had recognized the PRC on Jan 6, 1950, soon after its founding. But for more than two decades thereafter, the relationship was only at the charge d'affaires interim level. That meant that both countries had diplomatic representation in each other's capital, but no representation at ambassador level.
Geography, climate, economics and nationalism are often seen as decisive forces in history. In this dynamic, original and convincing book Dominic Lieven considers emperors and their dynasties as motors of events. Defying constrictions of time and space, ranging from Sargon of Akkad, the ruler of what is now northern Iraq (r. 2334-2279 BC), to the