Prospectus

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Early Modern Chinese History

Course
2023-2024

Admission requirements

There are no official admission requirements for this class. However, it is highly recommended that the students have taken BA1 basic introduction to Chinese history (BA 1 Chinese Geschiedenis tot 1911 or equivalent) or basic introduction to History (for non-Chinese majors).

Description

This BA3 seminar focuses on the Chinese empire in 13th-18th centuries (the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties). Many of the historical changes in China during this period were similar or connected to the fascinating developments in other regions. The Chinese empire went through two dynastic changes that shocked the world. The three ruling houses represented three ethnicities—Mongol, Han, and Manchu. In this class, we will explore how the dynamics of crisis, transformation, and globalization challenged and gave new energy to traditional institutions, ideas, and practices. We will think about how China became further integrated with global dynamics during these centuries and how this history informs our understanding of China in the world today.

Course objectives

1) Identify patterns of historical changes and continuities in early modern China;
2) Develop a deep appreciation of complicated systems and interactions that shape historical trajectories;
3) Cultivate skills to critically analyze various types of historical evidence and formulate arguments;
4) Learn how to develop historical research project step by step, either in the shape of longer paper or a BA thesis.

Timetable

The timetables are avalable through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

1) Seminar
2) BA thesis

Assessment method

1) Participation: 20%
2) Assignments: 30%
3) Final essay: draft (10%); final version (40%)

Late submissions will be subject to grade deduction.

Regular, punctual attendance, thorough preparation of reading material, and continuous participation in plenary discussions are also expected.

Resit

There will be no resit for the course work, but individual submissions can compensate each other.

For the final essay, only a previous submission for the first attempt qualifies students for the resit, and only if that submission scored a failing grade. First attempts that received a passing mark (5.5 or higher) cannot be improved through further revision.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

The readings will be available on Brightspace (e-books via library and articles). If the students are interested in purchasing hard-copy books, here are the key texts:

In the Wake of the Mongols: The Making of a New Social Order in North China, 1200-1600.
Wang, Jinping. (Harvard University Asia Center, 2018)

Leaving for the Rising Sun: Chinese Zen Master Yinyuan and the Authenticity Crisis in Early Modern East Asia. Wu, Jiang. (Oxford University Press, 2015)

The Price of Collapse: The Little Ice Age and the Fall of Ming China. Brook, Timothy. (Princeton University Press, 2023)

Slaves of the Emperor: Service, Privilege, and Status in the Qing Eight Banners. Porter, David C. (Columbia University Press, 2023)

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.

General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Vrieshof

Remarks

None