Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE HST2061

 
TITLE China in the World

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT History

 
DESCRIPTION Through a series of lectures, the study unit will introduce students to the main features, events and issues which have characterised the Chinese world in the wider context of global history. In particular the traditional Chinese concepts of Mandate of Heaven, All-Under-Heaven and the Imperial Tribute System will be introduced and discussed. This will be followed by a discussion of the role of the Sinosphere in Asian and World history.

An important aspect of China and the world refers to the relationship between China and foreign countries, starting with the origin, development and decline of the Silk Route(s). Other areas covered include China's maritime trade, China and the Central Asian world, Zheng He's treasure ships, the Ming ban on foreign trade and China's relationship with other countries during the Ming and early Qing period. Special attention will be focused on Lord McCarthy's visit to Qianlong's China, the Opium Wars and the establishment of foreign settlements and open ports by Western powers in the 19th Century.

Major turning points in China's relationship with the West, such as the Taiping and the Boxer Rebellions, the proclamation of the Republic, the May Fourth Movement, the Japanese occupation, China in the Second World War, the Civil War between Communists and Nationalists, and the People's Republic of China in the Post-War World (1950s to 1980s) will also be discussed. China's increasing influence and investments in the developing world since the early 2000s will also be covered.

Study-unit Aims:

- to introduce students to the main events and issues in Chinese history, especially those which have also impacted global history;
- to introduce students to the history of China's relationship with the outside world;
- to introduce students to the origin, development, significance and decline of the terrestrial and maritime 'silk routes' linking China to the outside world;
- to introduce students to the different ways in which foreign cultures such as Indian, Central Asian, Mongol and Western / Christian cultures have influenced China in the past.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- discuss the concepts of Mandate of Heaven, All-Under-Heaven, the Imperial Tribute System and the Sinosphere;
- appreciate the economical, political and cultural importance of China in Eastern and other regions of Asia in the past;
- appreciate the importance of the Silk Routes linking China with the outside world in world history;
- discuss how different foreign cultures have influenced Chinese history;
- discuss the main developments in China's relationship with the outside world, in particular with the West and the developing world.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of Mandate of Heaven, All-Under-Heaven and the Sinosphere;
- give examples of the economical, political and cultural importance of China in Eastern and other regions of Asia from history;
- discuss how the Silk Routes linking China with the outside world may have originiated, evolved and declined;
- discuss how different foreign cultures have influenced different aspects of Chinese history;
- describe the main developments in China's relationship with the outside world.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Keay, J., (2009), China - A History, Harper Press.
- Robb, P.S., (2010), China in World History, Oxford University Press.
- Roberts, J.A.G., (2011), A History of China, 3rd Ed., Palgrave-Macmillan.

Supplementary Texts:

- Crispin Twitchett, D. & King Fairbank, J. (1978-2009), The Cambridge History of China, Cambridge University Press.
- Fenby, J., (2008), The Penguin History of Modern China - The Fall and Rise of a Great Power 1850 to the Present, Allen Lane.
- Frankopan, P., (2017), The Silk Roads - A New History of the World, Bloomsbury.
- Platt, S.R., (2012), Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom, Vintage Books.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 50%
Examination (1 Hour) SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Stephen Cachia

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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