Research Guides: HIST 147B: Modern China (Hu): Background Sources

Finding Background Information on Your Topic

Encyclopedias, and Other Reference Sources

Encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference sources are a great way to get started and to find an overview or background information on your topic from various perspectives.

Online Reference Collections

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Allows you to search for articles from over 600 different electronic reference books and also works as a gateway to a very wide array of other information sources, including images, audio and video. It is a really excellent place to begin research with 'Topic Pages' offering authoritative overviews and a Mind Map feature to assist in narrowing and focusing research and identifying keywords for database searching.
Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Provides the full text of over 200 subject encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, and directories.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Below are some good encyclopedia and other reference sources on China. Use them to get an historical overview of your topic before focusing on a more specific time period.

Encyclopedia of Modern China (e-book)
Modern China (e-book)
Cultural Atlas of China (visual survey of China's history, geography, and civilization).
Berkshire Encyclopedia of China: Modern and Historic View of the World's Newest and Oldest Global Power
The Cambridge History of China
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture,
Contemporary Chinese Society and Politics
Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century

Offices and Services at Santa Clara University

Schools and Colleges

Centers of Distinction

HIST 147B: Modern China (Hu): Background Sources

Finding Background Information on Your Topic

Online Reference Collections

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries