The Chinese Revolution

Catalog description

Places the causes and consequences of the 20th century revolutions in historical perspective, by examining its late-imperial antecedents and tracing how the revolution has (and has not) transformed China, including the lives of such key revolutionary supporters as the peasantry, women, and intellectuals. Current topic description: This course provides an overview of Chinese history in the "long twentieth century," with particular emphasis on the Republican, Nationalist, and Communist revolutions. It examines political events, economic transformations, identity-building processes, major intellectual currents, and foreign relations during this period. It also acquaints students with key English-language scholarship, encourages engagement with broader questions about the nature of revolution and nationalism, and introduces a non-Western culture. In addition, the course is designed to strengthen students' skills in clear writing, analytical thinking, critical reading, and organized oral presentation.