Histories of East Asia: China

China's ascendancy as a global economic power in recent decades has been regarded by many as a reclaiming of its former glory. In introducing the history of China from earliest times to the present, this course aims to provide an understanding of the making and remaking over millennia of what we call Chinese civilization, with its changes, contingencies, and continuities, its various claims to greatness, and its many recurring challenges. This course is open to all students and assumes no prior knowledge of Chinese culture, history, or language. Readings consist of both a textbook and relevant primary sources.