HIST 274 - The Great Tradition in China before 1840

Cross-Listed as

A study of the culture and society of China from earliest times to the eighteenth century, when the impact of the West was strongly felt. The course will feature themes in Chinese history, including the birth of the Great Philosophers, the story of the Great Wall, the making and sustaining of the imperial system, the Silk Road and international trade and cultural exchange, the emergence of Chinese Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism, Genghis Kahn and his Eurasian Empire, the splendid literary and artistic achievements, the Opium War and its impact on modern China. Lecture/discussion format. Meets the pre-1800 requirement, and can count towards “Colonization and Empire,” or “Law and Social Justice,” or “Asia” fields. Alternate years. (4 Credits)