Chinese History: The Imperial Period (221 BC - 1800)

Much of the world's history has been shaped by experiences of empires. Even after the collapse of the major historic imperial powers during the second half of the twentieth century, the legacies of those empires continue to shape contemporary life. Historians and political analysts still talk in terms of—and seek to redefine—imperialism in reference to present polities. China is central to such discourses on imperial power: it offers a particularly rich body of historical evidence for the practice of empire. This course will assess that evidence and survey the great drama of Chinese attempts to bring under single control and preserve the unity of its vast territories, so varied ethnically, culturally, and geographically. It will take in the full sweep of China’s imperial past. It will start in the third century BC, when the foundations of the imperial system were consolidated. It will extend to the end of the eighteenth century, when both internal social changes and encounters with Western powers urged a reappraisal of the imperial system. Dividing this broad chronological scope into three periods—early, medieval, and late imperial—the course will explore larger changes and continuities over time. In each period, it will bring into sharp focus the social, cultural, and political arenas in which Chinese empire was developed and maintained.