
Recommended read
China: A History
John Keay
Keay's sweeping narrative from the Shang dynasty to the People's Republic in one readable volume.

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Japan (Shogunate)
1369–1395

Murad I
Ottoman Empire
1362–1389

Ferdinand I of Portugal
Portugal
1367–1383

Edward III of England
England
1327–1377

Bayezid I
Ottoman Empire
1389–1402

John I of Portugal
Portugal
1385–1433

Richard II of England
England
1377–1399

Charles VI of France
France
1380–1422

Peter IV of Aragon
Spain
1336–1387

Ashikaga Yoshimochi
Japan (Shogunate)
1395–1423
Robert II of Scotland
Scotland
1371–1390

Albert, King of Sweden
Sweden
1364–1389

Charles V of France
France
1364–1380

Emperor Chōkei
Japan
1368–1383

John V Palaiologos
Rome
1341–1376; 1379–1390; 1390–1391

Charles IV
Holy Roman Empire
1355–1378

John I of Aragon
Spain
1387–1396

Emperor Go-En'yū
Japan
1371–1382

Pope Urban VI
Papacy
1378–1389

Emperor Go-Kameyama
Japan
1383–1392

Manuel II Palaiologos
Rome
1391–1425

Robert III of Scotland
Scotland
1390–1406

Pope Boniface IX
Papacy
1389–1404

Margaret I of Denmark
Sweden
1389–1412

Pope Gregory XI
Papacy
1371–1378

Emperor Go-Komatsu
Japan
1392–1412

Martin of Aragon
Spain
1396–1410

Andronikos IV Palaiologos
Rome
1376–1379

David II of Scotland
Scotland
1329–1371

Emperor Go-Kōgon
Japan
1352–1371

Pope Urban V
Papacy
1362–1370

Erik of Pomerania
Sweden
1396–1434; 1435–1436; 1436–1439
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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From the library
Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Recommended read
John Keay
Keay's sweeping narrative from the Shang dynasty to the People's Republic in one readable volume.
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