This is an introduction to Chinese history from the 13th through the 20th centuries -- from the Mongols and Khubilai Khan's conquest of southern China to the amazing turnaround following the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and the opening of the era of reform that has led to China's emergence as a major economic and strategic power today. The course assumes no prior knowledge of Chinese history.

This course offers an introduction to Chinese history from the Mongol conquest in the thirteenth century to the People's Republic's emergence as a major global power in the twenty-first century. We will examine forces for political unification and economic integration under the imperial dynasties of the Yuan, the Ming, and the Qing, the transformation of China from a continental empire to a nation-state integrated into a global capitalist economy, the formation of a socialist alternative under the Chinese Communist Party, and the origins and limits of systemwide reforms following Mao Zedong's death in 1976. Students will be expected to attend lectures, take part in discussion sections, and read a variety of assigned materials, with a strong emphasis on primary sources in English. The course assumes no prior knowledge of Chinese history or Chinese language. Instructor bio: Xiaoshun Zeng received a PhD in history from the University of Washington and previously taught at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Zeng's research and teaching focus on Chinese history and the history of science, technology, and medicine.

Credit Restrictions

Students will receive no credit for History 6B after taking History 6.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills