HIST 165

Description:

This course will survey the history of China from its Neolithic origins until the twenty-first century by examining major overall themes, including political and military developments, social formations cultural trends and China's role in the larger world. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Prerequisites:

None

Course Fees:

None

Textbooks:

http://bookstore.jccc.edu

Supplies:

Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Trace the emergence of Chinese civilization and governance from the Neolithic through the Warring States periods.
  2. Review the rise and fall of Chinese imperial dynasties from the Qin through the Qing, noting competing patterns of centralized strength versus disintegration.
  3. List the outstanding achievements of Chinese civilization in religion, writing, and the arts.
  4. Describe the gradual disintegration of Chinese rule during the nineteenth-and early twentieth centuries, and the re-emergence of China as a strong power since the 1980's.
  5. Reflect on the significance of Chinese civilization for world history past and present. 

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Four Major Themes of Chinese History: Ancestor Veneration,
Geography, Political Autocracy, and Cultural Control
   A. Describe the traditional Chinese concern with dead ancestors, and
its social and political manifestations.
   B. Explain the geographical notion of China as the Middle Kingdom
surrounded by barbarians and cite manifestations of it in China's past.
   C. Discuss the ramifications of the centrality of the concept of a
strong ruler.
   D. Show how Chinese rulers have, often successfully, sought control of
language, religion, and philosophy.
  
II. Chinese Neolithic Cultures, Legendary Rulers, and the Impact of the
Shang and the Zhou Dynasties
   A. Discuss the evidence for Neolithic cultures in China and what can be
concluded from it.
   B. Outline the legendary history of early China as the Chinese describe
it.
   C. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Shang and Zhou feudalism.
   D. Explain the significance of the bone oracles as a tool of political
authority and for the role of writing in Chinese Civilization.

III. The Later Zhou and the Warring States Period
   A. Show how hereditary lords in the Zhou kingdom emerged as dominant
actors, relegating the Eastern Zhou king to a figurehead as they struggled
for hegemony.
   B. Discuss the competition among the warring states, led to the
emergence of philosophical, legal, and military schools and their
numerous, as well as striking technological achievements.
   C. Outline the main concepts of early Confucian, early Daoist, and
Legalist thought.

IV. The Qin Creation of a Unified China
   A. Describe the personality and exploits of Qin Shi Huang-di, the first
emperor.
   B. Evaluate the successes and failures of his reforms.

V. Early Han Dynasty Rule and Civilization
   A. Discuss in detail the structure of Early Han government and analyze
how the Han learned from the mistakes and successes of the Qin.
   B. Explain the cosmological competition between early Daoist and
Confucian philosophers, and the consequences of the Confucian victory for
Chinese Civilization.
   C. Show how the Han dealt with tribes on the borders of China and
attempted to expand in the south.

VI. Wang Mang Interval the Latter Han Dynasty
   A. Discuss the idealist usurpation by Wang Mang, and the weakening of
imperial rule that was required for the Later Han to re-establish the
dynasty.
   B. Describe the rebellions that weakened the later and the rise of the
Daoist Religion as a virtual replication of Han government.

VII. The Period of Division and the Growth of Religious Daosim and
Buddhism
   A. Discuss Cao Cao's attempt to reunite the empire in 220 C.E. and the
marks it has left on subsequent Chinese literature.
   B. Show how frequent dynastic turnover and barbarian incursions
weakened central political authority during this period.
   C. Describe how Buddhist and Daoist leaders attached themselves to
various kingdoms during this period and so strengthened their influence.

VIII. The Government and Civilization of Reunified of the Sui and Tang
Dynasties
   A. Describe the Sui efforts to reunify China prior to their overthrow
by the Tang.
   B. Explain how Tang government worked, and opened up trade on the Silk
Road.
   C. Outline the achievements of Tang civilization in city planning,
painting, porcelain, sculpture, and literature.
   D. Explain how the Wang Anshi rebellion arose and weakened the Tang
Dynasty.

IX. Achievements of the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties
   A. Show how the Song Dynasty emerged after a short period of disunity.
   B. Describe the innovations of Song government, the dynasties strengths
and weaknesses against surrounding peoples, and the Song flight to South
China.
   C. Outline Song technological achievements and the emergence of Chinese
business.
   D. Discuss developments in Buddhism and Daosim in the Song, and the
emergence of Neoconfucianism.

X. The Mongol Takeover and the Ming Dynasty
   A. Analyze the rise of the Mongols, their military prowess and their
takeover of China.
   B. Describe the fall of the Mongol (Yuan) dynasty because of peasant
rebellions, and the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.
   C. Outline the governmental, military, and naval achievements of the
early Ming.
   D. Examine the significance of the construction of the Forbidden City.
   E. Describe development in Chinese business during the Ming and China's
connection to world markets in the age of exploration.

XI. Weaknesses of the Late Ming Dynasty, the Manchu Takeover, and the
Early Qing Dynasty
   A. Discuss the power of court eunuchs during the late Ming. 
   B. Describe the rise of the Manchu in the northwest their invasion and
takeover of China, and their subsequent conquest of Tibet.
   C. Contrast the privileges of the Manchu banners during the Manchu
(Qing) dynasty.
   D. Show how the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors absorbed and influenced
Chinese Civilization at the height of the Qing.
   E. Analyze European influences on Chinese astronomy and art.

XII. Factors Leading to Destruction of the Qing Dynasty
   A. Examine changes in Chinese agriculture during the early Qing and the
resultant population explosion during the nineteenth century.
   B. Describe European attempts to win trading rights in China, the
importation of opium and the wars that resulted, and further European and
Japanese incursions on Chinese territory during the remainder of the
nineteenth century.
   C. Analyze the influence of European missionaries on nineteenth-century
China, and the resultant Taiping and Boxer Rebellions.
   D. Examine the reasons for the Qing dynasty's inability to resist
European and Japanese imperialism.

XIII. Republican China and the Growth of Chinese Nationalism
   A. Show how the establishment of the Chinese Republic in 1912 resulted
in the rise of warlord governments.
   B. Examine the "New Thought" that developed in early twentieth-century
China and its promotion of modernization.
   C. Describe the May 4, 1919, and its role in creating twentieth-century
China.
   D. Examine the development of the Guomindang under Chiang Kai-shek
(Jiang Jieshi) and the rise of the Communist Part of China (CPC) during
the 1920's.

XIV. Civil War and the Japanese Invasion
   A. Describe the outbreak of the civil war in 1927 and the resulting
"Long March."
   B. Describe the Japanese takeover of Manchuria in 1931 and its invasion
of China in 1937.
   C. Explain how the CPC and Guomindang came to sign a temporary truce in
order to fight the Japanese until 1945.

XV. The Communist Victory of 1949 and the Development of China Until the
Death of Mao Zedong
   A. Analyze the reasons for the CPC victory in the renewed civil war
from 1946-1949.
   B. Describe how communist rule was established in China through 1956
and efforts at collectivization and industrialization of the economy.
   C. Examine Red China's foreign policy with regard to Taiwan, the Soviet
Union, Korea, and the United States in the post-World War II era, its
involvement in the Korean War and other Cold War tensions.
   D. Show how the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution periods
devastated China until the death of Mao Zedong in 1976.

XVI. Economic, Social, and Cultural Developments in China Since the
1980's
   A. Describe the way in which the CPC adopted capitalism as an economic
system while retaining one-party rule.
   B. Evaluate the social, regional, and economic gains and disparities
that have resulted.
   C. Describe China's current prominence in world business and the issues
China now faces.
   D. Look for trends in developing Chinese culture.

Method of Evaluation and Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

At least three examinations emphasizing written answers and additional
written papers or other work, at the instructor's discretion.
Examinations and written work ordinarily comprising at least two-thirds of
class credit.
Grades corresponding under most circumstances to the traditional academic
formula of
90% - 100% = A
80% -  89% = B
70% -  79% = C
60% -  69% = D
59% and less = F

Caveats:

None

Student Responsibilities:

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.