Course Description
A survey of early, classical, and medieval Chinese history, from the Shang to the Tang dynasty (2000 B.C.E.-800 C.E.). Central themes include state formation, state-society relations, economic foundations, cultural transformations, and intellectual innovations. Emphasis on interpreting primary sources in translation.
Athena Title
China's Imperial Age
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Course requirements will center around building students’ critical reading and writing skills. Two short essays will require students to analyze a single source text, with emphasis on critical reading. Mid-term and final examinations will test students’ abilities to synthesize their knowledge of the primary source texts into short thematic essays.
Topical Outline
I. Geography and Language: Diversity and Divergence II. The Shang and Zhou Dynasties: Ritual and Politics III. Intellectual Foundations of Early China IV. The Qin and Han Dynasties: Creation of the Imperial Order V. Buddhism and Religious Daoism: Salvationist Religions VI. The Sui and Tang Dynasties: The Golden Age of Chinese Civilization
Syllabus