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Division of Humanities Huma 041: General Chinese History: Pre-Modern
Division of Humanities Huma 041: General Chinese History: Pre-Modern
Instructor: HO Kai-lung
Office: 3341 (e-mail: hmklho)
Office Hours: Tue 14:00-14:50 / Thu. 16:30-17:30
Syllabus and Reading List
Description: This course will examine Chinese history from the beginnings of
Chinese civilization to 1840 A. D. There are no prerequisites.
Grades: There will be two examinations in this course. The mid-term examination
will count as 40% of the grade, and the final will count as 50%. Tutorial-class
participations and performance will count as 10%.
Examinations: Questions may include multiple choices, true and false,
identification, and short answer.
Language: No knowledge of Chinese is required for this course. Classes are
conducted in English. However, Chinese characters for names, titles, and terms may
be supplied for the benefit of students who know that language.
Readings:
1) John K. Fairbank and Merle Goldman, China: A New History, Second Enlarged
Edition (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press,
2006).
2) Lecture notes prepared by the instructor.
Tentative Schedule
Week
Introduction
1
Introduction; Origins of Chinese Civilization
Readings: Fairbank, 1-45; Lecture notes
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
6
Reunification Tang Empire
Readings: Fairbank, 73-87; Lecture notes
Week
Week
8
China's Greatest Age: Northern and Southern Song I
Readings: Fairbank, 88-107; Lecture notes
Weeks
9
Tutorial; China's Greatest Age: Northern and Southern Song II
Readings: Fairbank, 88-107; Lecture notes
Week
Week
Week
Week
368-581
Northern Wei (386-534)
Eastern Wei (534-50)
Western Wei (535-77)
Northern Qi (550-77)
Northern Zhou (557-81)
Sui Dynasty
589-618
Tang Dynasty
618-907
Five Dynasties Period
907-60
Later Liang (907-923)
Later Tang (923-936)
Later Jin (936-946)
Later Han (947-950)
Later Zhou (951-960)
Song Dynasty
960-1279
Northern Song (960-1127)
Southern Song (1127-1279)
Liao Dynasty
916-1125
Jin Dynasty
1115-1234
Yuan Dynasty
1260-1368
Ming Dynasty
1368-1644
Qing Dynasty
1644-1911