HISTORY OF CHINA 1

This course is one of the mandatory taught modules within the China/Korea curricula in Lingue, Culture e Società dell'Asia e dell'Africa Mediterranea.

The course sets out to introduce students to the main formative events of pre-imperial and imperial Chinese history, until the fall of the Ming dynasty (17th century). Goals of the course are: to provide a chronological overview of pre-imperial and imperial Chinese history; to critically address salient aspects of the macro themes concerning the socio-political, economic and cultural sphere of the empire; to analyse some aspects of the relationship between the empire and the political entities of East Asia in the pre-modern period; to acquire command of the specialized lexicon of East Asian historical research. The course therefore offers a basis for students wishing to undertake the study of aspects of the history of China and East Asia.

Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and comprehension
At the end of the course the student will have acquired a knowledge of the periodisation of Chinese history from the pre-imperial and imperial period up to the 17th century; will have acquired the tools for evaluation and critical analysis of issues concerning economic, social, political and cultural development; will be able to identify and contextualise the main textual and material sources, and will have acquired awareness of the methodology of historical research.

Ability to apply knowledge and communication skills:
- to apply the knowledge acquired to other areas and subjects covered in the study program,
- to critically analyse the complexities of other historical periods, and to make simple comparative analyses of different historical processes (in a diachronic and synchronic perspective)
- to critically process the contents of the course and make consistent judgments
- to acquire an adequate vocabulary and use terminology in a informed and precise way.

Learning skills
- to know how to critically consult the reference texts,
- to learn how to conduct independent bibliography research and use web resources (databases, digital maps, ...),
- to improve the ability to read English language sources.

No specific prerequisites are required

Early China: from prehistory to the Warring States period
The early empire: Qin and Han dynasties
The early medieval period (2nd century- 8th cent. AC)
The Sui-Tang empires and Central Asia
Early modern China: Northern Song and Qidan-Liao, Southern Song and Jurchen-Jin
The Mongol empire (ca. 1200-1368)
The Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Sabattini, Mario; Santangelo, Paolo. Storia della Cina. Laterza. (fino al cap. 7)
Ebrey, Patricia; Walthall, Anne; Palais, James. Pre-modern East Asia: To 1800. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009. (chapt. 3 to 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) [disponibile in PDF nella cartella materiali di Moodle]

A list of suggested readings will be provided in class and available in Moodle.

The exam will consist of a 50-minute written test with multiple-choice questions and one open question

frontal lessons and tutoring

written