HI 209 - History of Modern China

Credit Hours: 3

A course in the historical changes that have led to the development of modern China. The course begins with a brief review of ancient China and traditional Chinese life, followed by a consideration of the Qing, China’s last independent dynasty, the decline of imperial China and the invasion of the Western powers. The various social forces leading up to the Chinese May Fourth Movement and Sun Yat Sen’s New Chinese Republic are addressed, followed by an in-depth consideration of the rivalry between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Guomindang Party (GND). Finally, the course takes us from the establishment of the Chinese People’s Republic, under Mao Zedong, to the reforms of Deng Xiaoping, paving the way for modernization and for China’s status as a world power.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – Other World Civilizations.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

demonstrate comprehension of China’s emergence as a modern world power;
demonstrate knowledge of the rivalries that gave rise to new China;
analyze the major historical reasons for the 4000 years of enduring Chinese civilization;
articulate the major reasons for the breakdown of the Qing dynasty and Western invasions of China; and
synthesize the contrasts among the New Chinese Republic under Sun Yat-sen and the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

F/S (C, N, S,)