21H.151 | Fall 2024 | Undergraduate

# Dynastic China

## Calendar

### Week 1

Session 1: Introduction to China’s History

### Week 2

Session 2: The Shang Dynasty (Shāng cháo 商朝; c. 1600–1046 BCE)

Session 3: The Western Zhou (Xīzhōu 西周; c. 1046–771 BCE)

- Assignment due: Week 2 discussion post

### Week 3

Session 4: The Spring and Autumn (Chūnqiū 春秋; 770–481 BCE) and Warring States Eras (c. 475–221 BCE)

- Geography quiz

Session 5: Confucius and the Confucian Movement

- Assignment due: Week 3 discussion post

### Week 4

Session 6: Daoists and Legalists

Session 7: Qin Shihuang 秦始皇 and the First Empire (221–206 BCE)

- Assignment due: Week 4 discussion post

### Week 5

Session 8: The Western Han (Xīhàn 西漢; 202 BCE – 9 CE)

Session 9: The Eastern Han (Dōnghàn 東漢; 25–220 CE)

- Guest lecture: Yunxin Li, Simmons University
- Assignment due: Week 5 discussion post

### Week 6

Session 10: From the Three Kingdoms to the Six Dynasties (Liù Cháo 六朝; 220/222–589 CE)

- Classical texts quiz

Session 11: Buddhism and Religious Daoism

- Assignment due: Week 6 discussion post

### Week 7

Session 12: The Sui (Suí cháo 隋朝; 581–618)-Tang (Táng cháo 唐朝; 618–907) Era

- Classical texts quiz makeup
- Assignment due: Week 7 discussion post

### Week 8

Session 13: Culture and Poetry of the Tang Dynasty

Session 14: End of the Tang

- Assignment due: Week 8 discussion post

### Week 9

Session 15: Midterm (Early and Medieval China)

- Midterm exam

Session 16: The Northern Song (Běisòng 北宋; 960–1127) and the Liao (Liáo cháo 遼朝; 916–1125)

- Mid-semester check-in

### Week 10

Session 17: Southern Song (Nánsòng 南宋; 1127–1279) and the Jurchen Jin (Jīn cháo 金朝; 1115–1234)

Session 18: Song Literati Culture and Neo-Confucianism

- Assignment due: Week 10 discussion post

### Week 11

Session 19: Mongol Conquest

- Assignment due: Week 11 discussion post

### Week 12

Session 20: Life Under Mongol Rule in China (Yuáncháo 元朝; 1271–1368)

Session 21: The Early Ming (Míng cháo 明朝; 1368–1644): Ming Taizu and Yongle

- Assignment due: Timeline proposals
- Assignment due: Week 12 discussion post

### Week 13

Session 22: Early Modern? The Ming in the 16th Century

Session 23: The Fall of Ming and the Manchu Conquest

- Assignment due: Week 13 discussion post

### Week 14

Session 24: The Qing (Qīng cháo 清朝; 1636/1644–1912) through Qianlong

Session 25: A Great Divergence? Qing Economy and Science in Global Terms

- Assignment due: Week 14 discussion post

### Week 15

Session 26: A Dream of Red Mansions 紅樓夢 and the End of Imperial China

Session 27: Last Class Discussion and Final Exam Review

- Final exam
- Assignment due: Final timelines

## Course Info

### Instructor

- Prof. Tristan G. Brown

### Departments

- History

### As Taught In

Fall 2024

### Level

Undergraduate

### Topics

- Humanities
  - History
    - Asian History
    - World History

### Learning Resource Types

This course includes the following types of learning materials.

Activity Assignments
Lecture Videos
Readings
Student Work
Written Assignments
Browse Resources
Browse Resources

The content of this course is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.

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