History 263 Modern China

Dr. Yi-Li Wu
208 Robinson Hall
E-mail: ywu@albion.edu

Course description

The two goals of this course are 1) to give you a basic understanding of the major political, social, and economic issues that have shaped China and Chinese culture from 1600 to the present and 2) to train you in the principles of historical analysis. The course is divided into five units: traditional China during the Qing dynasty, mid-19th century crises, the Republican period, the Maoist era, and present-day China.

The class format combines lectures, audio-visual materials, and student-led discussions and presentations. Class readings will include a wide range of primary materials, including autobiographies, government documents, and fiction. Class discussions and exercises will give you practice in analyzing these readings as historical sources. Short paper assignments will develop your ability to articulate original historical insights based on the readings. Finally, examinations will require you to understand key facts and explain their historical significance.

There is no pre-requisite for this course.

History 263 is cross-listed in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.