Admission requirements
Basic introduction to Chinese history (BA 1 Chinese Geschiedenis tot 1911 or equivalent).
Description
This BA2 seminar focuses on the history of the Silk Roads both as a concept in historical analysis, and in modern and contemporary geopolitics and cultural imaginations. We will investigate the meanings of the term, and critically examine the history of material goods (silks), infrastructure (travel routes and facilities over land and water), the flow of goods (contracts and transactions), and cultural brokers and multilingualism (traders, monks, and diplomats). In this seminar students will be developing a short historical research project focused on the mobility (or lack thereof) of particular objects, texts, or people in the broader region of Central, South, and East Asia.
Course objectives
In this course you will
learn to develop an informed view on an important concept in history and contemporary politics: the Silk Roads;
be introduced to some of the basics of historical theory and methodology with a particular focus on the importance of place in historical analysis;
question, situate and interpret original texts, images, and objects in the context of contemporary historical research;
learn how to design and develop a short critical historical research project step by step.
Timetable
Visit MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assignments: 30%
Participation: 20%
Final essay: draft (10%) and final version (40%)
The final mark will be based on all required work. The mark for the final essay should be a pass (5,5 or higher). If the student fails the final essay (5,49 or lower), this part can be resubmitted once.
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
Readings will vary. The list of reading materials will be posted on Brightspace
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
None.