"Topics in Pre-Modern Chinese History" is a privately-produced textbook written by Prof. Gregory Smits of Pennsylvania State University, who has generously put it and his other textbooks on Japanese history on the internet for the use of the public: http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks
The textbook's focus is on Chinese thought and religion, but will be both useful as an overview of early Chinese culture and history for beginners, and illuminating as a reference for more experienced students of Chinese history.