East Asian Civilization to 1500 Hist 1273-16098 MWF 10:00-10:50am (CTL 109) Fall 2011 Department of History & Geography College of Liberal Arts University of Central Oklahoma Dr. Xiao Bing Li, Professor of History Office: LAR 202G (phone: 974-5483) E-mail: bli@uco.edu Office Hours: M-F 9:00-9:30am, 11:10-12:00pm, MTWF 3:00-3:20pm, and by appointment A. UCO Central Six Transformative Learning Objectives To meet the objectives in this class, students will: 1. Improve leadership skills by taking ownership for academic performance in an individualized and group setting. 2. Advance abilities to complete research by understanding that History is an inquiry based discipline. 3. Learn the definition of collegiality, translated in this class as service learning, by participating as peer mentor for multiple drafts of historical research papers. 4. Develop a fuller historical understanding of the interconnectedness of political, social, economic, and historical narratives to meet the standard of global and cultural competencies. 5. Achieve self-satisfaction through successful completion of this course. 6. Improve student health and wellness. This class will develop a fuller historical understanding of the interconnectedness of political, social, economic, and historical narratives to meet the standard of global and cultural competencies. B. Course Description We study major features of the principal existing civilizations of East Asia, including those in China, Japan, and Korea, as they were originally formed and as they have been altered before the 17 th century by the forces of modernity. This course focuses on the rise of Chinese and Japanese civilizations, the formation and development of the Chinese empire, the cultural exchanges among East Asian countries and between East Asia and other parts of the world, and the position of East Asian civilizations in the ancient and medieval world. We try to define what major traditional features of the civilizations were, and how they intermesh to produce East Asia 1
that has entered the modern world. This is a three semester-hour (credit) undergraduate student course and there is no prerequisite. C. Course Objectives The main objective of this course is to provide us with a basic understanding of the origins and development of the Eastern civilization, an inseparable part of the total history of the human race. By studying the traditional societies, the student should understand the key concepts and world views of the Eastern civilizations. By analyzing the variety and complexity of the major political, economic, cultural, and social systems, the student should develop some general patterns which can be tested as a way of finding meaning and even predictive power in East Asian cultures. The student should also develop the relationship between ideology (philosophy and religion) and the culture in which the various systems are applied, and consider the potential for dialogue between East and West and understand the great issues about this region and some common issues with the rest of the world. And finally, the student should develop new reading and analysis skills, as well as better writing skills in this field. D. Textbook This course relies on a well-written textbook, which is required for Hist 1273-16098 and is available at the University Bookstore and Thompson s Books: Patricia Ebrey, Anne Walthall, and James Palais, Pre-Modern East Asia: to 1800; A Cultural, Social, and Political History, 2 nd ed. (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2009). The following books are also helpful but optional for this class: John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman, China; A New History, enlarged edition (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999). Mikiso Hane, Pre-Modern Japan, fourth edition (Boulder, CO: Westview, 2005). Michael J. Seth, A Concise History of Korea; From the Neolithic Period through the Nineteenth Century (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006). E. Grades and Requirements Your grades for this course will depend on nine different areas: First quiz (map test), September 9, worth 5 percent of your grade Second quiz, September 28, worth 5 percent Mid-term exam, October 14, 15 percent Third quiz, November 7, 5 percent 2
Term paper due in class on November 30, 20 percent Final exam, December 16 (9:00-10:50am), 20 percent Class attendance, 10 percent Group discussion and presentation, 10 percent Cultural activity participation, 10 percent Class attendance is essential for understanding of the course. Daily records will be kept so attendance or absence will affect the grade. It is reasonable to expect that, for reasons of sickness or family emergencies, you may have to miss a class. Please inform me about such legitimate emergencies, beforehand if at all possible. Missing more than three classes over the semester, except in such cases of emergency, will lower your attendance grade. When a student misses a class, he or she is responsible for all information presented and work done during that class. Make-up tests will be short answer questions for quizzes, and essay questions for mid-term and final exams. Late paper penalties: 30% deduction by Dec. 1, 40% by Dec. 2, and 70% by Dec. 5, 2011. In order to get a high participation grade in group activities, you will need to come to class, do the readings, and contribute to group discussions. You may make extra bonus points through your active participation in group discussions and presentations. Even though you have not read, come to class anyway. You may learn from the discussion and we will benefit from your presence. F. Course Outline and Assignments Aug. 22 Aug. 24 Aug. 26 Aug. 29 Aug. 31 Sept. 2 Getting acquainted and presentation of course goals China: Land, People, Governments, and Languages Pre-Modern East Asia, chapter 1 Early Chinese Civilization Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 1 History paper assignment Confucianism as Philosophy Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 2 Culture: Chinese Names Daoism and Feng-shui Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 2 Warring States Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 2 Video: Chinese Civilizations 3
Sept. 5 Sept. 7 No class (Labor Day) The First Emperor Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 3 Sept. 9 #1 Quiz (map test, chs. 1-3) Han Dynasty Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 3 Sept. 12 Sept. 14 Sept. 16 Sept. 19 Sept. 21 Sept. 23 Peasant Rebellions Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 4 Political Division Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 4 Culture: Chinese Calligraphy Buddhism Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 4 Tang Dynasty Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 5 Tang Culture Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 5 Korea: Land, People, Governments, and Languages Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 6 Sept. 26 #2 Quiz (chs. 4-5) Early Experience Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 6 Sept. 28 Sept. 30 Oct. 3 Oct. 5 Three Kingdoms Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 6 Japan: Land, People, Government, and Languages Ancient History of Japan Ancient History of Japan Group Presentation 4
Oct. 7 Oct. 10 Continental Civilization Culture: Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration Song Dynasty in China Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 8 Oct. 12 Review for the mid-term exam (chs. 1-7) Oct. 14 Mid-Term Exam (chs. 1-7) Oct. 17 Oct. 19 Oct. 21 Oct. 24 Oct. 26 Oct. 28 Oct. 31 Nov. 2 Nov. 4 Song Society Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 8 Mongol Invasion Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 8 No class (Fall Break) Classic Japan Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 9 Family and the Emperor Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 9 Feudalist System Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 9 Korean Dynasty Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 10 Foreign Influence Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 10 Group Presentation Buddhism in Korea Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 10 Nov. 7 #3 Quiz (chs. 8-10) Medieval Japan Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 11 Nov. 9 Samurai and Lord Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 11 5
Nov. 11 Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Nov. 18 Nov. 21 Nov. 23-25 Nov. 28 Nov. 30 Dec. 2 Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Foreign Invasions Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 11 Video: Japanese Civil Wars Foreign Rulers Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 12 Mongol Empire Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 12 Early Modern Japan Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 13 Warring States Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 13 No class (Thanksgiving Holidays) Early Modern China Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 14 History Paper Due Ming Dynasty Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 14 Early Modern Korea Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 15 Early Western Contacts Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 16 Conclusion: East Asia before Modern Age Pre-Modern East Asia, ch. 17 Dec. 9 Review for the Final Exam (chs. 8-15) Dec. 16 Final Exam (9:00-10:50am) G. Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment (next two pages) 6