HIS 232 Discovering China

This course is an introduction to Chinese history and civilization, including regular class sessions in spring semester and a two-week field trip to China in May. In the class sessions we will examine the major themes and questions of Chinese history and civilization. We will pay particular attention to China's transition from a dynastic empire to a modern nation state and the cultural interaction between China and the outside world. The two-week trip to China is designed to help students get a better understanding of China's past and present through concrete field study. The historic sites we are planning to visit, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Bund in Shanghai, offer a unique vantage point for us to observe and analyze the historical trajectory of China. Students are expected to develop a research project and complete a research after the field trip to China.