pre-modernchinesehistory.docVIP

Pre-Modern Chinese History Instructor: Dr. Yunwei Song E-mail: songyunwei@ Office Hours: to be announced ? Course Description ? The traditional model of Chinese history demarks the past into dynasties and their cycles of emperors. But across dynastic timelines,?various long-term forces and patterns repeatedly?crop up in?Chinese society, which over many thousands of years? has been shaped by?social groups and cultural encounters, some unique and others recurrent. This course will help you better understand both changes and continuities?in Chinese history, up to?the country that you?see today, by looking at Chinas multi-layered and dynamic past. We will follow dynastic periods to cover the political, economic, cultural, and social patterns of pre-modern China. We will also?try to compare Chinese history and?European history?so that?we can understand different civilizations better. This course begins with the origins of Chinese civilization and ends with the Opium War. ? Course Objectives ? Lectures, readings, excursions, assignments, discussions, and presentations are designed to help you develop the skills to: - think historically, read critically, and write and speak persuasively; - situate major historical events in Chinas early history in their proper geographical, chronological, and thematic contexts; - connect and integrate historical understandings, and grasp their ethical and moral dimensions; - appreciate the greatness and complexity of Chinese cultural and religious traditions; - seek?better understanding of the origins of the present development of China; - evaluate and critically assess the validity of historical evidence and interpretations; - use primary and secondary sources to construct sophisticated, persuasive, and logical interpretations of historical problems and events. ? Course Requirements and Form of Assessment ?Classes’ attendance and participation in all discussions (30%). The midterm reports (30%, one report due in Week Seven – 4-5 pages)