1
课程详述
COURSE SPECIFICATION
以下课程信息可能根据实际授课需要或在课程优化之后产生变动。如对课程有任何疑问，请
联系授课教师。
The course information as follows may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen
circumstances, or following review of the course at the end of the session. Queries about the course should be
directed to the course instructor.
1.
课程名称 Course Title
中国历史 Chinese History
2.
授课院系
Originating Department
语言中心 Center for Language Education
3.
课程编号
Course Code
CLE034
4.
课程学分 Credit Value
2
5.
课程类别
Course Type
通识必修课程 General Education (GE)Required Courses
6.
授课学期
Semester
春季 Spring
7.
授课语言
Teaching Language
英文 English
8.
授课教师、所属学系、联系方
式（如属团队授课，请列明其
他授课教师）
Instructor(s), Affiliation&
Contact
（For team teaching, please list
allinstructors）
语言中心对外汉语教学团队 CLE Chinese Teaching Team
9.
实验员/助教、所属学系、联系
方式
Tutor/TA(s), Contact
无 NA
10.
选课人数限额(可不填)
Maximum Enrolment
（Optional）
2
11.
授课方式
Delivery Method
讲授
Lectures
实验/实习
Lab/Practical
其它(请具体注明)
Other（Pleasespecify）
总学时
Total
学时数
Credit Hours
32
0
0
32
12.
先修课程、其它学习要求
Pre-requisites or Other
Academic Requirements
无 None
13.
后续课程、其它学习规划
Courses for which this course
is a pre-requisite
无 None
14.
其它要求修读本课程的学系
Cross-listing Dept.
无 None
教学大纲及教学日历 SYLLABUS
15.
教学目标 Course Objectives
This course offers a general history of China from the earliest records of Chinese civilization (primitive humans and
tribes) through the socialist modernization of People’s Republic of China. The course is introductory, having no
prerequisites, no prior knowledge of China or Chinese language. It is basically designed chronologically, but within the
chronological frame, China’s history from a wide range of lookouts will be covered, taking up the formation and
development of China’s politics, economy, society, technology, arts etc. It is hoped that the students will form a
comprehensive understanding of Chinese long history after they take this course. Furthermore, the students will be able
to better understand China’s current political systems, cultural and social customs as well as moral norms after
completion of this course.
16.
预达学习成果 Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:
speak out major dynasties’ names;
list major dynasties in a chronological order;
provide detailed information about major unified dynasties in politics, economy, culture and society;
retell the formation of major Chinese philosophical schools and religions in different dynastical periods;
recall major historical figures, including major philosophers, famous emperors, poets and writers, scientists, etc.;
identify the main patterns of dynastic changes;
analyze the major reasons for dynastic changes;
apply what they have learned from this course to professional contexts and daily life situations, such as conducting
an extended and in-depth conversation with local Chinese people about the Chinese history
17.
课程内容及教学日历 （如授课语言以英文为主，则课程内容介绍可以用英文；如团队教学或模块教学，教学日历须注明
主讲人）
Course Contents (in Parts/Chapters/Sections/Weeks. Please notify name of instructor for course section(s), if
this is a team teaching or module course.)
3
（note: the videos, movies and assignments included are subject to minor changes according to different semesters）
Week 1 The Origin of Chinese Culture
Lesson 1: Orientation talk
Instructor-led Discussion: Impression of China’s history
Lecture: “An overview of China’s history”
Lesson 2: Video: “Introduction to China in 10 minutes”; “The Animated History of China Part I &II”
Lecture: “Primitive Humans and Tribes”; “Glimmer of Civilization in Legendary Times”
Video: “How did Chinese Civilization begin?”
Week 2 The Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties: Early States and Bronze Civilization
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Presence of the Sate and Changes of Dynasties” & “Early States and Religious Society”
Video: “China’s Beginning- Xia Dynasty”; “The Animated History of China Part I &II”
Instructor-led Discussion: The characteristics of the Early States (comparison among Xia, Shang and
Western Zhou Dynasties)
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Brilliant Bronze Civilization”
Video: “How did Chinese Civilization begin?” “Chinese Bianzhong”
Highlight：The Evolution of Chinese Characters
Week 3 The Spring & Autumn and Warring States Periods: Vassals Contend for Hegemony and Social Reform
Lesson 1: Lecture: “The Five powers in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven States in the Warring States
Period” “Social Reform Triggered by Ironware and Ox-led Plowing”
Video: “Struggle and War in Ancient China-Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States”; “Confucius”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Cultural Awakening and Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought”
Video: “Collections of National Palace Museum - Spring and Autumn, Warring States Periods”
“The Philosophical Struggle That Defined China - Hundred Schools of Thought”
Assignment 1: Collect five famous sayings of Confucius and explain their meanings (submitted to BB in PPT)
Week4 Qin and Han Dynasties: Establishment and Development of a Great Unified Country I
Lesson 1: Presentation of Assignment 1
Lecture: “Qin Dynasty Lay the Foundation for Great Unification”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Western Han Dynasty’s Strategies on Consolidating Centralized Ruling”
Group discussion: Is Qin Shihuang, the first emperor in China, a great emperor? Why?
Week5 Qin and Han Dynasties: Establishment and Development of a Great Unified Country II
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Consolidating Northern Borders and Developing Western Regions”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Booming Culture in Qin and Han Dynasties”
Highlight: What were the significance of “silk road” in China’s trading with neighboring countries?
Week 6 Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties: Regime Division and Ethnic Concentration
Lesson 1: Lecture: “The Three Kingdoms Period and the Southern and Northern Dynasties”; “Development of the Areas
South of the Yangtze”
Discussion: Why wasn’t the Yangtze River the center of China’s civilization before this period?
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Gathering of Northern Ethnic Groups”; “Colorful and Diverse Culture in the Wei, Jin and Southern
and Northern Dynasties”
Assignment 2: Analyze a historical figure in this period and give a presentation next week in classroom with
PPT
Week 7 Movie and Presentation
Lesson 1: Movie watching and discussion: The Red Cliffs (The movie’s name is subjected to change)
Lesson 2: Discussion on the movie
Presentation of Assignment 2: highlighted historical figure
Week 8 Sui and Tang Dynasties: a Prosperous and Open Age I
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Reunification and Rise and Fall of the Sui Dynasty”; “Splendid Times of the Early Tang Dynasty”
4
“New Reforms of the Sui and Tang Dynasties”
Discussion: How do you look upon Wu Zetian as the only empress in China’s history?
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Hu and Han are ‘Members of One Family’”; “Openness and Communication” “Brilliant Culture of the
Sui and Tang Dynasties”
Assignment 3: What are Sui and Tang’s special contribution to Chinese history? Write a short essay of about
1000 words according to your own understanding (submit the e-copy to BB in a week)
Week 9 Song and Yuan Dynasties: Diverse Cultural Collisions and Great Socio-economic Development
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Confrontations between the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties’”; “Social Reforms and Highly
Developed Civilization of the Song Dynasty”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Yuan Empire Expanded the Unified Multi-ethnic Country” “Diversified Cultures in the Song and
Yuan Dynasties”
Highlight: The prosperity of cities in Northern Song Dynasty as seen in Zhang Zeduan’s painting(P130).
Discuss your findings.
Assignment 4: Find materials related to the book The Travels of Marco Polo and give a report of
your findings (in form of presentation with PPT).
Week 11 Movie and Presentation
Lesson 1: Movie watching: Mulan (The movie is subjected to change, with the introduction of the movie background)
Lesson 2: Discussion on the movie
Assignment 4 presentation: The Travels of Marco Polo
Week 12 Ming and Qing Dynasties (before the Opium War): Prosperity of Farming Civilization and Crisis
before Modern Times
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Changes of Ming and Qing Empires and Measures Aimed to Intensify Imperial Power”
“Consolidation and Development of the Unified Multi-ethnic Country”
Highlight: How did the Ming and Qing government Strengthen the political control in Tibet?
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Prosperity of Farming Civilization and Early Emergence of Elements Typical of Modern
“Culture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with Both Old and New Forces”; “Crisis before Modern
Times”
Assignment 5 preparation: Create a play in which you travel back to Qing Dynasty and meet Emperor
Kangxi. Forward the script to BB and act out the scene in classroom next week.
Week 13 Movie and Presentation
Lesson 1: Movie watching: The Painted Skin (The movie is subject to change)
Lesson 2: Discussion on the movie
Assignment 5 presentation: a play with Kangxi (students acting out the play in groups)
Week 14 Fall and Struggle of Modern China
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Western Powers Invade China and Chinese People Rise in Resistance”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Democratic Revolutions in Modern China”; “National Capitalist Development”
Assignment 6: What are your understanding of Sun Yat-sen‘’s democratic revolution in this period? Why did it
fail? Write a short essay of about 1000 words on your personal opinion and submit your e-copy
to BB in a week.
5
Week 15 Exploration Progress of the People's Republic of China for Modernization
Lesson 1: Lecture: “Political Construction of New China”
Lesson 2: Lecture: “Socialist Economic Development”; “Foreign Relations of Modern China”
Discussion: How do you look upon the controversy on Mao Zedong?
Week 16 Review of the course
Lesson1: Time line and mind map of China’s history (students’ free sharing with PPT)
Lesson 2: Findings after taking the course (students’ oral sharing)
18.
教材及其它参考资料 Textbook and Supplementary Readings
Textbook:
China's History,Cao Dawei & Sun Yanjing,Translated by Xiao Ying, Li Li & He Yunzhao, China Intercontinental Press，
2010
Supplementary Reading:
To Change China: Western Advisers in China, Jonathan D. Spence, Penguin Books, 1990
课程评估 ASSESSMENT
19.
评估形式
Type of
Assessment
评估时间
Time
占考试总成绩百分比
% of final
score
违纪处罚
Penalty
备注
Notes
出勤 Attendance
课堂表现
Class
Performance
10%
小测验
Quiz
课程项目 Projects
平时作业
Assignments
60%
期中考试
Mid-Term Test
期末考试
Final Exam
30%
期末报告
Final
Presentation
其它（可根据需要
改写以上评估方
式）
Others (The
above may be
modified as
necessary)
6
20.
记分方式 GRADING SYSTEM
√ A. 十三级等级制 Letter Grading
B. 二级记分制（通过/不通过） Pass/Fail Grading
以上课程信息可能根据实际授课需要或在课程优化之后产生变动。如对课程有任何疑问，请联系授课教师。
The course information as follows may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances,
or following review of the course at the end of the session. Queries about the course should be directed to the course instructor.
课程审批 REVIEW AND APPROVAL
21.
本课程设置已经过以下责任人/委员会审议通过
This Course has been approved by the following person or committee of authority
Center for Language Education