Professor Charles Holcombe explores the historical development of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from ancient times to the modern day, showing how these East Asian countries have influenced one another throughout the centuries.

Containing two of the world's largest economies and some of our favorite cultural exports like K-Pop and anime, East Asia is a region with massive global significance.

Many of us are unfamiliar with East Asian history before the 20th century, although this period laid the foundations for the region's meteoric rise.

Charles Holcombe is a professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa and an expert in East Asian history.

In A History of East Asia, Holcombe tracks the development of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the Neolithic era to the early 21st century.

By delving deep into the interconnected histories of each country, Holcombe shows how East Asia evolved into the dynamic place it is today.