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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.