This introductory survey of Chinese history focuses on the study of the development of the world's oldest civilization still in existence. Emphasis is placed upon the political, military, and economic developments as well as the cultural development of China until present. It takes as its focus the changes and transformations in China over the past millennia, and how the Chinese people have faced the challenges of the world. Students will engage key issues in the formation of China’s historical and modern states and societies, including urbanization, agriculture, international relations, government structure, and new religious and intellectual developments. This will point towards an understanding of China’s history and contemporary situation in the world. 
We will focus our attention on the following questions during the course:

1. Why did large territorial states arise in ancient China?
2. How did agriculture influence the development of Chinese civilization?
3. What fundamental institutions and ideas form the basis of Chinese philosophy and religion? 
4. How did the Qin unify China?
5. What was the dynastic cycle?
6. How did the Han empire collapse?
7. To what extent did China become Buddhist?
8. Why were the Sui and Tang dynasties able to recreate China's empire?
9. Why were the Mongols able to conquer such a vast empire?
10. Why did the Chinese accept Manchu rule?
11. What were the most serious threats to Manchu rule in the 19th century?
12. Who were the key figures in the revolution of 1911?
13. Why did the communists win the Chinese Civil War?
14. Why did Mao launch the Cultural Revolution?
15. How do Chinese, U.S., and the EU policies toward the world differ? 

Major topics in the course are: 
1. The Origins and Geography of China
2. The First Historic Dynasty
3. The Zhou 
4. The Han
5. The Great Disunity
6. The Tang
7. The Song
8. The Mongols 
9. The Ming
10. The Manchu Qing
11. Republic of China 
12. Civil War and Japanese Invasion
13. The Mao Years
14. The Reform Era
15. The Modern Era