HONG KONG SHUE YAN COLLEGE
COURSE OFFERED FOR 2004-2005

Department of History

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Electives

DESCRIPTION OF COURSES

The objective of this course is to help students to be aware of their heritage from the past and more conscious of the present. Extracts from relevant historical materials and works of modern historians are studied. Topics include the cultural, political, social and economic changes and developments in China from the earliest time to the present, as well as the rise and fall of dynasties. Special emphasis is placed on the transitions of dynasties, the causes and effects of such transitions from one dynasty to another, the formation of Chinese traditional thought, contacts between China and the outside world, Chinese contribution to world civilization and the interaction of different peoples.

After completing this course, students will be able to un-derstand the conceptional foundations of western history from ancient times down to the eve of the French Revolution.
Content of course:
1. Towards Civilization
2. The Fertile Crescent and the Civilization along Banks of Rivers
3. The Greek Achievement
4. The Establishment of the Roman Empire
5. The Rise of Christianity and Islam
6. Medieval Political History
7. The Feudal Age
8. Nations in the Making
9. The Renaissance
10. The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation
11. The Enlightenment
12. The Voyages of Discoveries
13. Europe before the French Revolution

This course will provide students with an analytical study of the Western culture and tradition, and tries to relate its significance to the present time. Beginning in the Pre-history times, the course will help students to appreciate the Sumerian, Greek, Roman and other cultural history, with a comparative approach. The significance of the birth and spread of Christianity and Islam will be noted, while attention will also be paid to the political, social, economic, and institutional history of the Middle Ages. The cross-cultural interaction between the Crusades and the Arab world will also be an important part of the course. The various movements that brought Europe back to life, such as the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment will be analyzed. The last part of the course will be concerned with nation building, voyages of discovery and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

The course starts with the First Anglo-Chinese War, goes through a century or so of tumultuous history, and ends in 1919, the year when the May Fourth Movement broke out. It deals with the political, diplomatic, social and economic history of late Ch'ing and discusses why the Republic did not satisfactorily solve the problems bequeathed by the Manchu Government. Topics such as the T'ai-ping Rebellion, the Self-Strengthening Movement, the T'ung-chih Restoration, the Ch'ing-liu Party, the Sino-Japanese War, the Scramble for Concession, the One Hundred Days Reform, the Revolution and the Warlord Period will be under discussion.

The course is designed to provide students with a systematic basic understanding of traditional Chinese culture in order to stimulate their interest and establish a sound basis for their further study in the field of Chinese culture. At the end of the course, students will be imparted with a passion to the essence of Chinese culture and a positive set of life values which are pre-requisites to their enthusiasm in serving society.

A general survey of the development of Chinese culture from the legendary Pre-tridynasty down to the contact with European culture in the 19th century. A comparison of the politico-social rituals between those before and after Confucius; the meaning of the so-called pre-Ch'in philosophies; the changes in the budding stage of the selective system of Officialdom; the impact of the invasion of the Northern peoples and the spreading of Buddhism in Chinese culture; the culture of the Tang Empire; and the Establishment of the higher Moral standard and academic standard in learning in the Sung Dynasty will be studied.
The course of General Chinese History (Hist. 101-2) and the ability to read fluently the wen-yen (文言) style literature are prerequisites as this course requires constant references to the original sources.

This course aims at studying the historical changes of Ch'in and Han Dynasties and their policies in terms of political, social, economic, and cultural significance. The approach is based on the orthodox history, archeological discoveries and studies, and works of contemporary historians.
The course comprises two parts. In the first part discussions will be held on the unification of China under the Ch'in Dynasty and the establishment of a centralized bureaucracy, integration of the Empire and its outward expansion. Development and reformations of various institutions will also be included.
The main topics of the second part will include the inauguration of the former Han dynasty, Emperor Wu-ti's reforms, Establishment of Hsin and the Reforms of Wong Mong, Founding of Later Han, Struggles among the imperial relatives, eunuchs and ministers. Development of learning, foreign relations, social structure and customs will also be discussed.
* Courses with a mark(*) will be offered every two years

This course introduces the nature, purpose and method of history. It is composed of two main topics:
(I) Study on the source materials of history: discussing their sorts, nature and origins; and examining their reliabilities and evaluating their value in historical writing; and
(II) On Historical Writing: An analytical and critical study on some eminent historical works, and to introduce the basic prerequisite training for a historian.

This course is an introduction to the principal methods of historical research and writing, discovering, collecting and selecting historical and related materials; theories of historical interpretation and criticism and research on topics from the philosophical viewpoint to the bibliography, source, character of evidence and evolution of the study of history.
The major items include: (1) the nature and purposes of historical study; (2) the unique features of historical study; (3) the relations between history and other related disciplines; (4) the selection, compilation and criticism of source materials; (5) inference of historical facts and events; (6) theories of historical interpretation and schools of philosophy of history; (7) a preliminary survey of theories and methodology being used in the contemporary historical study of the West; (8) an introduction to the writing of history.

This course is a political, economic and cultural history of China from 581 AD to 960 AD:
The Golden Age of Tang dynasty, installation of various political, military and economic systems, the rule of Empress Wu, the An-Lu-Shan Rebellion, the chaos of the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms; Sino-foreign relations; social and economic development will be discussed.
* Courses with a mark(*) will be offered every two years

This course aims at introducing students to the development of Chinese history over the past 8 decades since 1919. Students will be acquainted with significant events in modern Chinese history, e.g. the end of autocratic rule, the establishment of the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China, etc., through which students can have a better understanding of the political, social and economic changes and the modernization drive currently under way in China, so as to let them know great efforts still have to be made in order to attain the goal of modernization and prosperity of the motherland.

There will be 3 main parts in this course: (1) The Chinese Communist Party - its background, its birth and its development (1919-1923); (2) The first co-operation between CCP and Kuo Ming Tang (1924-1927), the first civil war between them (1927-1936), the second attempt for co-operation (1937-1945); the second civil war (1945-1949); and (3) From the establishment of the Communist led regime - the People's Republic of China in 1949 up to the modernization drive currently under way in China (1949-2000).

The aim of this course is to give a general survey of Chinese social thought of leading scholars from the ancient time to the present, accompanied by the study of the background of various historical stages. Special emphasis will be placed on the characteristics and the developments of different schools of thought and their social significance.

A survey of China during the Sung-Yuan Period: 960 AD - 1341 AD, covering the aspects of political development, economic and social changes, and intellectual life; characteristics of Sung-Yuan politics; foreign relations; prosperity and crisis of the economy; social structure and urbanization; Neo-Confucianism and other intellectual achievements.
* Courses with a mark(*) will be offered every two years

This course is mainly to provide a general survey of the political, social, and economic changes from the end of the Late Han dynasty to the reunification of China under the Sui dynasty. Topics cover the rise and fall of different dynasties, in which the power structures, the political system, and the development of institution will be treated; the "sinicization" of the nomadic peoples; the expansion and development in Yangtze China and South China: the new trend in aesthetics and onto logical speculations; the penetration and acclamation of Buddhism, and the achieve-ments in science and technology.
* Courses with a mark(*) will be offered every two years

This course is a general survey of the political system of Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, and the social, economic, literary and intellectual changes. Emphasis is placed on the explanation of the influences and effects of major events on the rise and fall of the respective dynasties.
The following topics are to be studied: (1) the establishment of the Ming Dynasty; (2) Ming Despotism and the eunuch; (3) the origin and development of the political, military and financial institutions; (4) the rise of the Manchu; (5) the zenith of the Ch'ing Dynasties; (6) social, economic and cultural developments of the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties.
* Courses with a mark(*) will be offered every two years

The purpose of this course is to help the students who have been acquainted with the basic principles and methods governing the study of history to understand the theoretical framework and methodology of the science of historical source and material, which are essential for historical research and successful study of history.

This course is designed to introduce students to the historical development and changes of different regions in China. Relevant materials extracted from historical works are studied. Main topics include the following: 1) the meaning of Historical Geography field of studies; 2) history of Chinese historical Geography; 3) historical cities and regions; 4) population distribution and migration in the past; 5) rivers and canals; 6) the development of transportation and trade routes in ancient China; and 7) agricultural and economic establishment in ancient China.

This course aims to analyse a set of historical data from the French Revolution to the 20th century. The lectures will focus on political, economic and social aspects of modern and contemporary world. Major topics of coverage include:
1. The French Revolution
2. Napoleon Bonaparte
3. Liberalism and Nationalism
4. The Industrial Revolution and Social Changes
5. Imperialism
6. The First World War
7. The Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union
8. The West between the Wars
9. The Second World War
10. The Cold War

This course is a general survey of the political and socio-economic history of Great Britain from Julius Caesar's visit to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the period of 1815-1945.
The major topics to be lectured on are as follows: (1) Roman Britain; (2) The Anglo-Saxon Period; (3) The Middle Ages; (4) The Tudor Age; (5) The Stuarts; (6) The 18th Century; (7) Imperialism and Liberalism; (8) Britain and the First World War; (9) Between the Wars; (10) The Second World War and the Postwar Period.

This course traces Hong Kong's historical development from a small South China island to a cosmopolis with an international reputation. It examines the different facets of Hong Kong's politics, economy, culture and society, as well as the roles played by the Chinese in last century of remarkable progress.

This course is a survey of the key political institutions in Chinese history; their internal structure, functions, interrelations and developments. Emphasis will be placed on the structure of power within the highest decision-making bodies, the socio-political background of the changing relationship between the central and local authorities, and the formation and features of bureaucracy in traditional China.

This course introduces students to the study of the daily life of the inhabitants in the land of China from the Late Shang dynasty down to modern China. The main topics cover the characteristics of family and household life; human relation; social structure; process of socialization; the conditions and leisure of different classes and communities, the attitude to nature; and the ever-changing forms in religion, music and architecture.

The course is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of the founding and development of Chinese traditional thoughts from as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods down to the establishment of the Republic of China. Major topics of coverage include: 1) the founding and development of the 4 schools of thought namely Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism and Legalism; 2) Confucianism as the main-stream of Chinese traditional thoughts after the Han Dynasty; 3) the influx of Western thought (including Marxism) after the 19th century and its impacts on Chinese traditional thoughts. Special emphasis will be laid on the development of post-19th century Chinese thoughts. After completing the course, students will become acquainted with a systematic understanding of the development of Chinese thought which is also of great benefit to their own cultivation of temperament.

This course is to introduce students to the developments of Chinese historiography from the ancient times to the late Ch'ing Dynasty, the establishment of official historians, the characteristics and commentary of historical works and the syllabuses of the traditional Chinese historiography. Prominent historians, ancient and contemporary, as well as their works will be discussed. Attention will also be paid to the new orientation of historiography in connection with the social, economic and cultural studies, the archaeological discoveries, and the verifications of historical events.

Western historiography has a long tradition of over two millennia and can be divided into three periods: ancient, medieval and modern. This course aims to describe and analyse the subject by means of the historical research activities in western countries in each period. The course shows how history, as a legitimate discipline, has come into existence, and summarises the character-istics of major developments at various times in different countries. There will also be discussions on how western historiography progresses as a result of the efforts of great historians (for example, Hirotodus, Thucydides, Xenophon and Ranke) in the direction of becoming a vigorous and serious human science.

This course is a general survey of the American nation. Consideration is also given to political trends, social and economic developments, cultural achievements of America from the War of Independence to the present. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary America and its domestic problems, foreign policy, and involvement in world affairs.

With a view to developing the students' ability to assimilate what they have learnt in separate subjects over the past 4 academic years, final year students of this department will be required to submit a thesis relevant to their field of study. This course covers areas on historical research methodology, the writing of an academic thesis, its requirements, choice of topics and outline, the revision of its first draft, its final version etc., Thesis Supervisors will ensure the standard of the thesis for graduation. The course will be conducted in individual tutorials in addition to lectures.

Note: For the descriptions of courses not listed under the Department of History, please refer to their respective Departments for details.