History

This course explores the developmental context of Buddhist history and the evolution of important Buddhist ideas, systems, and cultures. It provides an analysis of historical materials and the interpretation of religious thoughts, as well as new perspectives and theories of Buddhism research in China and abroad. The course focuses on the history of Chinese Buddhism, taking into account topics such as early Indian Buddhism, Japanese, and Korean Buddhism.

The course examines key aspects of popular religious culture during the early modern period in Europe which witnessed the transformation of religious life associated with the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. It deals specifically with religious ideas and devotional practices at a popular level and the changes introduced by both Protestant and Catholic reformers. As part of the spectrum of belief it examines ideas concerning magic and witchcraft and it includes a study of the witch hunting which swept through Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Throughout the course particular attention will be given to the role of women in churches and society and how they were affected by the religious upheavals of the period. 

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.