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course
materials
HIS
374 / 574
REVOLUTIONARY
MOVEMENTS IN MODERN CHINA
SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTION: HIS 374 / 574, REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN MODERN CHINA, consists of a thematically-organized consideration of the character of traditional Chinese culture and civilization followed by a chronologically-arranged presentation of topics in the political, social, cultural and intellectual history of China since 1800. The course has been designed to provide a background against which contemporary China may be better understood and appreciated.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The following represents the major course objectives to be accomplished by the end of the semester: following fifteen weeks of instruction, students enrolled in HIS 374 / 574, REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN MODERN CHINA, should be able to --
- able to discuss with understanding and the use of supporting evidence the main features of social, political, economic, religious behavior associated with traditional Chinese culture and civilization and to identify and explain the historical significance of major figures, terms, events and institutions associated with the study of Chinese history since 1800;
- discuss with insight the impact of geography on the process of Chinese cultural development in historical perspective;
- outline and substantiate a wide range of reasons behind the collapse of Imperial China in 1911;
- outline and substantiate reasons for the failure of the Guomindang (Kuomintang) to create a viable Republic in China after 1911;
- explain reasons behind the triumph of Communism in China in 1949;
- discuss in detail the pattern of events in China since 1949 with insight and understanding;
- discuss in detail the role of foreign powers, particularly the United States, and Western cultural influences in China since 1800;
- discern both continuities and discontinuities which exist between the traditional past and China today; and
- discuss with insight the impact of modernization on Chinese life since 1800.
The class will meet three times per week for lecture and discussion following the list of topics included in the Class and Assignment Schedule. In addition to MANDATED ATTENDANCE at these lecture / discussion sessions, all students will be required to complete a skills assessment project, a series of journal assignments, to prepare for and participate in a CHINALINE conference, to write an analytical essay based on a reading of Jung Chang's Wild Swans and to assemble a three-part extended essay examining an aspect of the modernization process at work in Chinese history since 1800. There will be no formal examinations in the course.
REQUIRED TEXTS: The required texts for this course, Richard J. Smith's China's Cultural Heritage, Jonathan Spence's The Search for Modern China and Jung Chang's Wild Swans, are available at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Assigned readings from each are noted in the Course and Assignment Schedule, listed by the date the readings are to be completed.
SYLLABUS: INTRODUCTION ! COURSE OBJECTIVES ! REQUIRED TEXTS !
ASSUMPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS ! FINAL GRADE DETERMINATION
COURSE AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE: INTRODUCTION ! IMPERIAL CHINA ! REVOLUTION ! REPUBLIC ! RISE OF COMMUNISM ! CHINA UNDER COMMUNISM ! CONCLUDING THE COURSE OF STUDY