Spring 2003

 

                                                                HSTAS 211

                                                           Chinese Civilization

 

Instructor:                    Patricia Ebrey, Professor of History

                                    112A Smith Hall

                                    ebrey@u.washington.edu

                                    Office Hours: 

 

 

Goals of the course:  To gain a broad understanding of the development of Chinese civilization.

 

Grading:          Two one-hour tests                                                                  40% (20% each)

            Informal writing online                                                   10%

            Section grade, based on participation and

                        short writing assignments                                              20%

            Final exam                                                                               30%

 

To receive a passing grade, students must take all exams and submit something for each writing assignment.  Makeup examinations will be arranged only in the case of documented emergencies.

 

REQUIRED MATERIAL FOR ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Ebrey, ed. Chinese Civilization:  A Sourcebook. New York: Free Press, 1993. (CCS, cited by selection number)

Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History of China. Cambridge University Press, 1996. (IH)

A Visual Sourcebook for Chinese Civilization  (Available on the web at http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/.  (VSB)

 

The organization of this course is premised on the idea that a civilization is a complex entity that can best be grasped through diverse types of sources.  We therefore mix lectures, videos, classroom discussions of primary sources, and on-line discussion of visual sources, all in an effort to help you comprehend both basic features of Chinese culture and how China has changed over time.

 

Our schedule is as follows:  Monday and Wednesday are regular lectures. It is best to read the IH assignment before attending those classes. Tuesday and Friday are days for section meetings. It is best to read the CSS assignments before those days, as directed by your TA. Thursday is variable. When a lecture or a  test are scheduled, you should come to the regular room. By contrast, on the five days devoted to discussion of visual material on the web, you should instead go to a computer lab (any one will do) and join the discussion with your section on-line.

 

Do note that there are not enough lectures for you to get a full grounding of the basic history from the lectures alone: careful and attentive reading of the textbook is essential to do well in the tests and final exam. To help you check whether you are getting what you need to from the textbook and lectures, study guides with questions and terms for identification will be distributed on a regular basis by the TAs. 

 

 

Schedule

 

Week 1            Reading: IH, 10-37; CCS, 1-6

 

3/31                 Introduction.  Geography and Language

 

4/2                   Shang and Zhou dynasties: Background to Confucius

                                   

4/3                   The Warring States Period  (500-250 BC)

 

Week 2            Reading: IH, 38-59; CCS, 7-11

 

4/7                   Daoism

 

4/9                   Qin

 

4/10                 VSB: Ancient Tombs

 

Week 3            Reading: IH, 60-107; CCS, 12-17, 21-23

 

4/14                 Han Dynasty

 

4/14                 Buddhism

 

4/15                 VSB: Buddhism

 

Week 4            Reading: IH, 108-163; CCS, 26, 30, 31, 35-36.

           

4/21                 Tang Dynasty

 

4/23                 Tang-Song transition

 

4/24                 First Hourly Exam

 

Week 5            Reading: IH, 164-89; CCS, 38-41, 44-46.

 

4/28                 The Literati Elite

 

4/30                 The Mongols

 

5/1                   VSB: Military Technology

 

Week 6            Reading: IH, 190-236; CCS, 47-48, 53-58

 

5/5                   Ming Dynasty

 

5/7                   Manchus

 

5/8                   VSB: Homes

 

Week 7            Reading: IH, 236-62; CCS, 66-71

 

5/12                 Opium War and Taiping Rebellion

 

5/14                 Late 19th Century

 

5/15                 Test

 

Week 8            Reading: IH, 262-82; CCS, 73-78

 

5/19                 New Culture Movement

 

5/21                 Republican China

 

5/22                 VSB: Clothing

 

Week 9            Reading: IH, 282-93; CCS, 79-84

 

5/26                 MEMORIAL DAY¡XNO CLASS

 

5/28                 WWII in China

 

5/29                 Mao and the Chinese Revolution

 

Week 10          Reading: IH, 294-336; CCS, 89, 91, 93-99

 

6/2                   China under Mao

 

6/3                   China 1976-1989

 

6/5                   China 1989- present

 

 

Final exam