History

This course examines the development of American history. Students analyze and evaluate the key events and issues in the course of American history. The course explores the multi-race, multi-ethnic and multi-denominational co-existence of the British Colonial society in North America from the initial establishment, steady development to maturity. It follows as the new independent nation state grows up, but it is also faced with internal contradictions and crises. Students analyze the bloody civil war and the economic boom that followed strengthened and strengthened the country at great cost. The course also looks at the 20th century, as the United States was on the road of world hegemony and how it was faced with one round after another comprehensive social, cultural and fundamental values crisis, and the forces demanding social reform and conservatism were constantly competing.

This course offers an exploration to introduce the history of China and kingdoms from the 14th century through the end of the 1800s with focus on academic journals and discussion classes. Students translate course materials from ancient mandarin texts. Topics include: Qin monarchy, Han Empire, Tang and Song, Mongol Empire, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. AssessmentL final exam, class discussion, reading summaries.

This reading-intensive course studies some of the main conflicts that have occurred since 1945 – beginning with the wars in Indo-China (1946-54) and Algeria (1954-62) that saw the end of France as a colonial power. Conflicts covered in this course include: The Franco-Vietnamese conflict; Lebanon civil war; Islamic revolt in Afghanistan and occupation by the Soviet Union; and the American conflict in Iraq.  Students gain a clear understanding of the background and consequences of these conflicts, how immensely difficult it is for outside powers to intervene in any other state, and a deeper understanding of societies that are very different to those of the West. Students critically analyze the impact traditional mass media and social media have had, both in covering the conflicts and in fostering resistance or opposition to the powers that be.

The course offers a general introduction to the history, literature, and cultures of China. Emphasis is placed on the modern period from the nineteenth century onwards. Students develop basic knowledge on modern Chinese history, from the last empire to the republic to the current age of the socialist market economy. The course pays special attention to literature as a key expression of culture but also addresses Chinese linguistics as well as other cultural expressions such as film and philosophy. Throughout the course, theoretical and methodological questions are addressed concerning the study of China in a postcolonial and globalizing world.

This course examines key moments of the long-twentieth century of the Western civilization from the Great War to the Financial Crisis of 2008 and the Brexit. Challenging the dichotomy of ‘West’ and ‘East’, it pays attention to the way in which different civilizations interconnected themselves. 

This course surveys the internal development and external relations of East Asia since 1800. Topics include interaction with the West, internal rebellions and reforms, the importance of certain key figures, the changing roles of women, protests, and current social issues. By the end of the course, students should have a firm understanding of changes in East Asia over the past two centuries and be able to assess these historical factors that shaped the current societies.