This book provides a comprehensive overview of the economic development of China's ethnic minorities from the pre-Qin era (before 221 BC) to the early 21st century. Organized into three parts and eleven chapters, it traces the transformation of ethnic minority economies from traditional forms of production such as nomadism, agriculture, and hunting, through the challenges of a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society in modern times, to the socialist reforms and market-oriented changes of contemporary China. Drawing on historical records, fieldwork, and policy analysis, the book explores both broad historical trends and the unique complexities of ethnic minority economies. Combining academic depth with practical insight, it offers a valuable resource for understanding the evolution and current realities of minority economic development in China.