This book is based on the "Rise of Great Powers" course taught by Professor Qian Chengdan, which is very popular among Peking University students. It tells the history of the rise of nine world powers since the 15th century, including Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States. This book not only tells the basic story of the rise of great powers and some interesting situations, but also focuses on clarifying the issues of great powers and the rise and fall of great powers, and finding universal laws and commonalities. Following Professor Qian's narration, readers can understand: What is the so-called "world power"? Why did this phenomenon appear? What are the characteristics of a "world power" at each historical stage? Why do some countries rise and others decline? What is the mechanism of the rise and fall of great powers?
本书以钱乘旦教授开设的颇受北大学生欢迎的“大国崛起”课程为蓝本，讲述15世纪以来葡萄牙、西班牙、荷兰、英国、法国、德国、日本、苏联、美国等九个世界大国崛起的历史。本书讲大国崛起不仅讲基本故事，讲一些有趣的情况，更着力于将大国问题、大国兴衰的问题讲清楚，寻找普遍规律和共性。跟随钱教授的讲述，读者能够明白：所谓“世界大国”是什么？这个现象何以出现？在每一个历史阶段上，“世界大国”的特征是什么？为什么一些国家崛起、另一些国家衰落，大国兴衰的机制是什么？
本书以钱乘旦教授开设的颇受北大学生欢迎的“大国崛起”课程为蓝本，讲述15世纪以来葡萄牙、西班牙、荷兰、英国、法国、德国、日本、苏联、美国等九个世界大国崛起的历史。本书讲大国崛起不仅讲基本故事，讲一些有趣的情况，更着力于将大国问题、大国兴衰的问题讲清楚，寻找普遍规律和共性。跟随钱教授的讲述，读者能够明白：所谓“世界大国”是什么？这个现象何以出现？在每一个历史阶段上，“世界大国”的特征是什么？为什么一些国家崛起、另一些国家衰落，大国兴衰的机制是什么？
