HIST 205-02, Modern China, Spring 2009

Abstract

For millennia the Chinese viewed their emporor as the Son of Heaven and their empire as the center of the world. Following Columbus and the Age of Exploration, however, in the sixteenth century Europeans began arriving in China in unprecedented numbers, precipitating a crisis in Chinese society. This course examines the dynamics of China's relationship with the outside world and the subsequent transition that China made from empire to nation. Modernization continues in the twentieth century and with it came domestic social revolution and conflict with the United States, a legacy that continues to inform our relationship with the world's most populous nation. This course is designed to offer a general survey of modern Chinese history through use of chronological narrative while also providing some depth by focusing on a limited number of important events and major themes. This is achieved through critical analysis of primary sources and discussion of specialized readings. Through this method and not lecture alone, it is expected that students will gain factual knowledge about China's history while also learning to appreciate the uniqueness of Chinese culture and its impact on the contemporary world.