Introduction:

Is Modern China really “modern”? What do we mean by this term? Can we understand the modern history of China, if we only focus on the Chinese response to the arrival of Western powers in the region? This course will examine the political, intellectual and social development of China since ca. 1800. Attention will be given to traditional Chinese culture and society, peasant revolutions, the May Fourth Movement, the rise of nationalism and communism, and domestic developments since the 1949 founding of the People’s Republic of China. Comparing and analyzing a variety of primary source materials, we will write our own history of China, and in the end develop our skill to observe societies with different origins than our own.

Students taking this course should reach the following goals by the end of the semester:

· Construct persuasive written arguments concerned with historical topics.

· Utilize the latest methods of Web-based technology to communicate with fellow students.

· Learn of the fundamental historical development of China from ca. 1800 to the present day.

· Understand better the effect the recent past has had on the modern world.

· Exhibit self-motivation and self-expression by exploring and asking questions regarding historical topics beyond personal life experiences