The history of Taiwan, an island-state lying less than 100 miles off the coast of China whose world-class economy and geopolitical position in Asia give it an importance that goes far beyond what a population of only 22.5 million would suggest, is little explored or understood in the West. This important book is the most integrated, comprehensive, and accessible history of Taiwan available.The contributors, distinguished leading experts from three continents, guide the reader through Taiwan's colorful history, from Neolithic times to the present. Each chapter, especially commissioned for this book, stands alone as a scholarly contribution. Collectively, the chapters bring the reader from the geographical and climatological context, through the stages of pre-modern history and the coming of the Chinese and the West, through the Japanese occupation, to a modern polity that has just experienced democratic elections and troubling military threats from its powerful neighbor, China. The general reader, the student, and Asian-Americans who trace their roots back to Taiwan or to China through Taiwan will find this book invaluable.