Week 1

Session 1: Introduction to China’s History

Week 2

Session 2: The Shang Dynasty (Shāng cháo 商朝; c. 1600–1046 BCE)

Session 3: The Western Zhou (Xīzhōu 西周; c. 1046–771 BCE)

• Assignment due: Week 2 discussion post

Week 3

Session 4: The Spring and Autumn (Chūnqiū 春秋; 770–481 BCE) and Warring States Eras (c. 475–221 BCE)

• Geography quiz

Session 5: Confucius and the Confucian Movement

• Assignment due: Week 3 discussion post

Week 4

Session 6: Daoists and Legalists

Session 7: Qin Shihuang 秦始皇 and the First Empire (221–206 BCE)

• Assignment due: Week 4 discussion post

Week 5

Session 8: The Western Han (Xīhàn 西漢; 202 BCE – 9 CE)

Session 9: The Eastern Han (Dōnghàn 東漢; 25–220 CE)

• Guest lecture: Yunxin Li, Simmons University
• Assignment due: Week 5 discussion post

Week 6

Session 10: From the Three Kingdoms to the Six Dynasties (Liù Cháo 六朝; 220/222–589 CE)

• Classical texts quiz

Session 11: Buddhism and Religious Daoism

• Assignment due: Week 6 discussion post

Week 7

Session 12: The Sui (Suí cháo 隋朝; 581–618)-Tang (Táng cháo 唐朝; 618–907) Era

• Classical texts quiz makeup
• Assignment due: Week 7 discussion post

Week 8

Session 13: Culture and Poetry of the Tang Dynasty

Session 14: End of the Tang

• Assignment due: Week 8 discussion post

Week 9

Session 15: Midterm (Early and Medieval China)

• Midterm exam

Session 16: The Northern Song (Běisòng 北宋; 960–1127) and the Liao (Liáo cháo 遼朝; 916–1125)

• Mid-semester check-in

Week 10

Session 17: Southern Song (Nánsòng 南宋; 1127–1279) and the Jurchen Jin (Jīn cháo 金朝; 1115–1234)

Session 18: Song Literati Culture and Neo-Confucianism

• Assignment due: Week 10 discussion post

Week 11

Session 19: Mongol Conquest

• Assignment due: Week 11 discussion post

Week 12

Session 20: Life Under Mongol Rule in China (Yuáncháo 元朝; 1271–1368)

Session 21: The Early Ming (Míng cháo 明朝; 1368–1644): Ming Taizu and Yongle

• Assignment due: Timeline proposals
• Assignment due: Week 12 discussion post

Week 13

Session 22: Early Modern? The Ming in the 16th Century

Session 23: The Fall of Ming and the Manchu Conquest

• Assignment due: Week 13 discussion post

Week 14

Session 24: The Qing (Qīng cháo 清朝; 1636/1644–1912) through Qianlong

Session 25: A Great Divergence? Qing Economy and Science in Global Terms

• Assignment due: Week 14 discussion post

Week 15

Session 26: A Dream of Red Mansions 紅樓夢 and the End of Imperial China

Session 27: Last Class Discussion and Final Exam Review

• Final exam
• Assignment due: Final timelines