070417 VO Chinese Civilization (2009S)

This course desires to portray for the beginning student of China some of the diverse achievements and distinctive characteristics of traditional Chinese civilization. It covers the history of China from the earliest times to the middle of 20th century. It examines the main political, social, economic, religious and cultural developments from the formative period in Chinese history, through the unification of China in 221 BCE and the subsequent imperial periods; to the establishment of the Qing Dynasty following the Manchu conquest of China in 1644; down to the transition of Chinese society from traditional to modern during the late 19th and early 20th century. The course is a combination of chronological depiction and theme focused discusssing, focuses on the origins and evolution of a distinctive Chinese political system, the centuralized bureaucratic system; the evolution of Confucianism and its role in Chinese history; The relation between China and the outside world, from silk road, to the Zhenghe maritime expedition (15rh century), and the encounter with Christian missionaries, the learning from the West movement; and economic growth and cultural achievements.