The Origins and Emergence of Chinese Civilization

Harvard FAS

What are the origins of Chinese civilization? What was society like before the development of the large states that would eventually merge to form the Chinese empire over 2000 years ago, essentially forming the basis of modern China? How does this process of development compare with other early civilizations? This course surveys the archaeology of China from the Paleolithic (ca. 1 million years before present) up to and including the Shang Dynasty (ca. 1050 BC), with an emphasis on great…