Life in Early China: From Beijing Man to the First Emperor

Quickly and clearly lays out the broad strokes of Chinese history from Beijing Man (ca 200,000 years ago) to Qinshihuang (ca 226 BCE). Comes at China's ancient history from all the relevant angles: archeological, mythological, and historical. Covers the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin dynasties. This'd be a good book to read before a trip to China or before watching a period piece by Chen Kaige or Zhang Yimou ('The Emperor and the Assassin' or 'Hero') but not before Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon'...since this book comes nowhere near the Qing dynasty.