HIST 242 Imperial China

A chronological and thematic survey of the Chinese civilization from neolithic times to about 1600. Major themes will include: the nature of the Chinese world order, family and lineage, gender issues, philosophical and religious transitions, political authority and its ideological underpinnings, dynastic cycles and broader patterns in socio-political movements, interactions with other civilizations, and the impact of technological and demographic changes over time. We shall use the comparative approach on specific themes to illuminate contrasts and similiarities between Chinese and Western societies, and take note of recent archeological finds and new scholarly interpretations to better understand China's dynamic past and rapidly changing present.