SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Lower-Level

What does science and technology mean in a Chinese context? This course provides a historical survey of science and technology studies in China, spanning from the thirteenth to the twentieth century. Positioning China within a global order, we will delve into questions such as: Was there a unique “Chinese” way of studying Nature? How did science, technology, and empire intersect in early modern and modern Chinese history? How did non-Chinese scientists and engineers contribute to China’s knowledge of the world? Throughout the semester, we will explore the worlds of Confucian scientists as well as Muslim geographers, Jesuit engineers, Manchu anatomies, and Chinese barefoot doctors. We will also examine a variety of subjects, including the global circulation of scientific knowledge, technology in empire-building, and the epistemic encounters between the West and China.