History of Pre-Modern China

3 units

The history of pre-modern China is crucial to our understanding of China and the world today. While many of China's developments of the last two centuries mark its departure from a long-standing tradition, these developments were also continuations of long-term trends that had lasted for about a millennium. This course surveys certain major issues, themes, events, personalities, and patterns of pre-modern China from the Neolithic era to the early nineteenth century, with a particular focus on the period between 1000 and 1650. Arranged in chronological order, it covers milestone events such as the rule of the Mongols and the rise of the Ming Empire and also presents long-term social, economic, and culture changes such as the Tang-Song Transition and the localist turn. Students will not only learn historical knowledge about China but also get familiar with the practice of history through close engagements with primary and secondary sources. Prerequisites: no.