1. Home
2. Faculty of Arts and Sciences

HIST476 CHINESE HISTORY

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the Historical Period: Develop a comprehensive understanding of Chinese history from the establishment of the Qing Dynasty in 1644 to the death of the last Emperor, Puyi, in 1967, focusing on the key political, social, and cultural transformations over this period.

Examine the Impact of Modernization: Analyze the modernization efforts in China, particularly in the context of a non-Western civilization, and explore how China responded to internal challenges and external pressures throughout its last three and a half centuries.

Evaluate Political Changes: Study the political evolution of China, from the decline of the Qing Dynasty to the rise of modern political ideologies, including the transition to the Republic of China, the impact of warlordism, the rise of the Communist Party, and the final fall of imperial rule.

Explore Social and Cultural Transformations: Investigate the social and cultural shifts in Chinese society, including changes in class structures, urbanization, and the impact of Confucianism, Buddhism, and other cultural traditions during the modernization process.

Analyze Key Historical Figures: Focus on the roles of significant political, military, and cultural figures, such as Empress Dowager Cixi, Sun Yat-sen, Mao Zedong, and Puyi, and assess their contributions to the shaping of modern China.

Understand the Foreign Influence: Examine the influence of foreign powers on Chinese history, including the impact of the Opium Wars, imperialism, and the introduction of Western ideas, technologies, and governance systems.

Explore China’s Transformation through Conflict: Study the major wars and conflicts, including the Taiping Rebellion, the Boxer Rebellion, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War, and their effects on the nation’s political and social development.

Contextualize China in Global History: Place the modernization and transformation of China within the broader context of global history, analyzing China’s interactions with Western powers, Japan, and other Asian countries, and how these interactions shaped its path toward modernization.

Course Content

Knowledge of modernization efforts of a non-western civilization; Chinese history from the establishment of the last Chinese dynasty (1644) to the death of the last Emperor Pui (1967); Chinese political, social and cultural, experiences of the last three and half century.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

Demonstrate a Comprehensive Understanding of Chinese History: Exhibit knowledge of key events, political changes, and social transformations in China from the Qing Dynasty (1644) to the death of Emperor Puyi (1967), and be able to situate these events in their historical context.

Evaluate China’s Modernization Efforts: Critically assess the different modernization efforts in China, particularly examining the challenges faced by China as a non-Western civilization in adapting to modernity, including the impact of both internal and external factors.

Analyze Political Evolution: Understand the political changes during the late Qing Dynasty, the Republican era, and the early years of Communist rule, and analyze the effects of these transformations on Chinese governance, society, and its international relations.

Program Outcomes Matrix

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution