Chapter The Approaches of Italian Historians to Chinese History in the Early Cold War Period (1950-1960s)

Abstract

During the 1950s and 1960s, in the international context of the Cold War and the decision of most Western countries, including Italy, not to recognise the People’s Republic of China, some Italian historians and scholars became interested in Chinese history and historiography. The case studies presented here offer differing experiences and approaches to these areas of study. These include Enrica Collotti Pischel who, as a historian, devoted her entire life to the study of Chinese contemporary history; Luciano Petech, an orientalist and historian who focused his studies on Tibet; and Roberto Battaglia, an outstanding historian, who came into contact with China and Chinese history by chance, thanks to the important cultural and intellectual mediation provided by Centro Cina.