HISTORY 165
Instructor: Dr. Yi Sun
Class Hours: Monday 3:55 – 6:50 p.m.
Office: IPJ 270
Office Hours: M 10:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.
and by appointment
Tel: 260-6811
Email:
Course Objective
This course covers Chinese history
spanning over a century and a half, during which time incessant reforms and
revolutions took place. It traces the
roots of these reforms and revolutions back to the first Opium War during the
nineteenth century, and concentrates on several major revolutions, including
the Taiping Uprising (1850-1864), the Republican Revolution of 1911, the
Nationalist-Communist struggle, which was further complicated by the
Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), and culminated in the Communist victory. It then examines the turbulent years in the
history of the People’s Republic of
Required
Jonathan Spence, The
Search for Modern
Ida Pruitt, A
Daughter of Han: The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman
Iris Chang, The
Rape of
Liang Heng and
Judith Shapiro, Son of the Revolution
Timothy Weston and Lionel Jensen, ed.
Mary Lynn Rampolla,
A Pocket Guide to Writing History
Course Requirements
A. Class Attendance (15 points)--Since we only meet once a
week, class attendance and participation become all the more crucial. Perfect attendance (no unexcused absence)
will be rewarded with 15 points at the end of the semester, provided that you
are also actively involved in the learning process (in other words, engaging in
activities unrelated to the class will result in deduction of attendance
points). Please note that each
undocumented absence will result in the deduction of 5 points of your final course
grade. If you arrive late or leave
early without permission, proportionate number of points will be deducted
accordingly. If you leave after a map
quiz or class discussion, it will be considered as absence (you will get credit
for the quiz or discussion participation).
This requirement is only waived for absences due to proven
illness or university-related activities, in which case appropriate
documentation is required, and no exception will be made. Also make sure that your doctor’s note
contains sufficient information for verification.
B. Map Quizzes (25 points)-- There are two map quizzes. The first one, which asks you to locate
important places in China and related areas, is worth 10 points; the second
one, which asks you to both identify and locate sites of historical
significance, is worth 15 points.
C. Discussions (60 points) – There are
four scheduled in-class discussions based on the required readings. A list of five questions on one book and a
one-paragraph answer to each question is to be submitted at the beginning of
each discussion session. Please make two
copies of the questions; one to be submitted and the other for you to keep for
group discussion. The questions/answers
should demonstrate careful reading and solid understanding of the materials. At each discussion session, you should be
able to identify the main theme and arguments of the book, and offer your own
critique of it.
D. Examinations (110 points) -- In order to
familiarize you with the format and requirement for the exams, the first one
will be worth 50 points, and the final will be worth 60 points. They will cover both the lecture and
information from the textbook (it may be necessary to draw information from
other supplementary readings). The exams
will include several identification items, a short essay and a comprehensive
one.
E. Paper (10-12 pages; 40 points)--The
paper should be a critical discussion of a major issue in modern Chinese
history. You may choose to write on a
certain topic after consulting with me or ask me to assign you a topic. A one-page proposal should be submitted no
later than March 24. It should include
the topic chosen, an outline of argument, and a preliminary bibliography. The final paper should include 6-7 additional
sources. The required readings for this
class can be cited, but they do not count toward the total number of sources
for the paper.
Class Evaluation
Final grades will be determined according
to the following scale:
225-250 A;
200-224 B: 175-199
C: 150-174 D. “Plus”and “minus” grades will be given to the top and bottom
three percentage points in each category.
For example, if B’s range from 80-89%, B+ will be 87-89% and B- will be
80-82%.
Class Schedule
1/ 27
Course Introduction
The Chinese Language, Environment and
People
Philosophies and Religion: Confucianism,
Daoism, and Buddhism
2/3 (Spence:
Chapters 7-8)
An Overview of the Qing
(Manchu) Dynasty
Domestic Crisis: The Taiping Rebellion
2/10 (Spence:
Chapters 9-10)
Reform and Restoration: The
Self-Strengthening Movement
The First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)
The Hundred-Day Reform
The Boxer Uprising
Discussion: Daughter of Han
2/17 (Spence:
Chapters 11-12)
The 1911 Republican Revolution
Early Years of the New Republic
The New Culture Movement
The 1919 May Fourth Movement
2/24 (Spence:
Chapters 13-14)
Founding of the Chinese Communist Party
The First CCP-KMT United Front
(1923-1927)
The Northern Expedition
3/3 Midterm
Examination
3/17 (Spence:
Chapters 15-16)
The Nationalist Decade (1928-1937)
The Long March
The Second CCP-KMT United Front
(1937-1945)
Discussion: Rape of
3/24 (Spence:
Chapters 17-18)
Development of the Communist Power
The Chinese Civil War (1945-1949)
Paper Proposal Due
3/31 (Spence:
Chapters 19-20)
The People's Republic: Establishment of
the CCP control
Early Political and Economic Developments
The Hundred Flower Campaign and
Anti-Rightist Campaign
4/7 (Spence:
Chapters 21-22)
The Great Leap Forward
International Tensions: Sino-American
Relations and Sino-Soviet
The Cultural Revolution: Causes and
Consequences
4/14 (Spence:
Chapters 23-24)
The Cultural Revolution (continued)
Political
Climate in the Post-Mao Era
Map Quiz II
4/21 (Spence:
Chapters 25-26)
Deng Xiaoping and the Economic Reforms
The
4/28 (Spence:
Chapter 27)
Current Developments: Economy, Society,
Culture
Changing Lives of Women: "Holding
Half of the Sky"?
5/5 (Hand-out
articles)
Joint Venture Enterprises and Human
Rights Issues
New Developments in Sino-American
Relations
5/12
Final
Thoughts and Reflections
Final Examination is scheduled for May 19
(Monday: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.)