Home>Course>[CHES2001] Modern Chinese History>CHES2001

A comprehensive understanding of modern history is essential to anyone interested in China today as it rapidly re-emerges as a global power in the twenty-first century. In this introductory course, we will cover China’s political, social, and cultural transformation from a universal Confucian empire in 1800 to the modern nation state that it is today, exploring such topics as fragmentation and reform before the fall of the Qing, sociocultural change and political movements in the republican era, the long fight for survival during two world wars, the socialist transformation under Mao, and the unprecedented economic growth during opening and reform that has enabled China, once again, to take its place as a leader on the world stage.

Our weekly sessions will include two hours of lecture and one hour of tutorial. In lectures, we will discuss readings from secondary sources using a thematic and chronological approach to analyse China’s past with the six Cs of historical thinking: context, change over time, causality, complexity, contingency, and continuity. In tutorials, we will explore a variety of primary sources in translation—from film, lyrics, and literature to speeches, letters, and official documents—highlighting key themes and addressing important historical questions. Thus, this course aims to develop solid foundational knowledge of Chinese history and strong technical skills that you can apply to other disciplines within China studies and thereby enhance your understanding of China today.

China and the World —The Great Qing Empire and Chinese Society

Mid-Century Crises — Western Intrusion and Domestic Rebellion

The Tipping Point — Confucian Reform and the First Sino-Japanese War

The 1911 Revolution — The End of Empire and the New Republic

Young China — The May Fourth Movement and the First United Front

The Interwar Years — The Nanjing Decade and the Long March

The War Years — The War of Resistance against Japan and the Civil War

New China — Birth of the People’s Republic and the First Five-Year Plan

Dynasty Deepening the Revolution — The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution

Re-entering the World — Reopening the Doors and Redefining Revolution

Century Socialism with Chinese Characteristics — Opening and Reform in the 1980s

China Rising — The Reform Era and China in the New Millenium, 1990–2010