Introduction to Chinese Civilization

Catalog description

This course provides an introduction to Chinese civilization from ancient times to the present. With a focus on inter-cultural and inter-ethnic interactions, we will explore three sets of questions that are central to the understanding of Chinese civilization. China is frequently seen as a culturally and ethnically homogenous society, but is this view historically accurate? How did Chinese interactions with cultural, ethnic, and racial others shaped the evolution of Chinese civilization, and how did these interactions impact the trajectory of world history? How might considering heterogeneity help us better understand China and Chinese identity, and how have these concepts changed over time? Over the course of the semester, we will read historical texts from China’s major dynasties and trace changing conceptions of Chinese civilization and Chinese identity. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: CORE SSPC, HPC or IPC; GCS Elective Chinese History, Society, and Culture.