China's Twentieth Century Revolutions (HI0162)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-CTCR

Possibly no other country in the world during the twentieth century has experienced such dramatic and turbulent change as China. At the turn of the century China was ruled by the Qing dynasty, heir to an imperial tradition that can be traced back to the 3rd century BC. By the end of the century China had experienced three major political revolutions (as well as enormous social and cultural change) and is one of the few surviving communist states in the world. The course aims to provide an insight into the meaning and significance of these changes, and will be focused on the nature and impact of six major developments: (1) the 1911 revolution, which overthrew China's last imperial monarchy and established a republic, the first in Asia (2) the may Fourth Movement in the 1910s and early 1920s, a cultural- intellectual movement that also marked the beginnings of mass nationalism and resulted in the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party (3) the Nationalist Revolution of the 1920s and establishment of China's first party-state under the Guomindang (Nationalist Party) (4) the communist-led rural revolution of the 1930s and 1940s that ushered in the People's Republic of China in 1949 (5) Mao Zedong's 'road to socialism' in the 1950s and 1960s (6) the economic and political reforms of the post-Mao period after 1976. Equal attention will be paid to the political, social and cultural dimensions of these changes, and use will be made of translated primary documents and literature in translation where relevant. The course will also utilize visual representations by looking at 3 major films that have traced the impact of China's 20th century revolutions on the lives of ordinary people: 'Farewell My Concubine' (dir. Chen Kaige), 'The Blue Kite' (dir. Tian Zhuangzhuang), 'To Live' (dir. Zhang Yimou). The course will especially be useful for those who are taking (or intend to take) the 4th year MA course on Gender and Patriarchy in 20th century China.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not accepting further student enrolments.

? Pre-requisites : A pass in any first level historical course and any second level historical course or equivalent. Visiting students should normally have 3 to 4 History courses at grade B or above. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure that a place is available (tel. 503783).

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

China's Twentieth Century Revolutions (VS1) (Not being delivered)

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
18/09/2007	14:00	15:50

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	14:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The student will acquire an insight into the meaning and significance of the dramatic changes (as well as continuities) that have marked China during the twentieth century, and will gain an understanding of new historiogrpahical approaches that have questioned conventional views on the nature of such changes.