Admission requirements
There are no official admission requirements for this class. However, it is highly recommended that the students have taken BA1 basic introduction to Chinese history (BA 1 Chinese Geschiedenis tot 1911 or equivalent) or basic introduction to history (for non-Chinese majors)
Description
This seminar is intended to broaden the students’ historical knowledge about imperial China by exploring a topic central to our world: information. How was information understood, recorded, and transmitted in premodern China? How was the history of information shaped not only by technology but also by social, cultural, political, and legal practices? How did the Chinese cope with the “explosion of information” in early modern times and look for “truths”? Through the lens of information history, we think about patterns of change and continuity in imperial Chinese history, and contemplate its contemporary resonances.
Students can choose to write BA thesis in this course. The topic of the thesis can be loosely connected to the central theme.
Course objectives
Broaden and deepen historical knowledge and understanding of imperial China
Develop abilities to situate Chinese history in comparative and global contexts
Cultivate critical reading skills; develop abilities to evaluate and synthesize information from multiple sources
Cultivate skills to communicate ideas and analysis effectively (in writing or digital formats)
Improve skills to conduct original research and write research papers
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Thesis BA or Thesis MA
Assessment method
Take home examination/assignment
Active Participation/coöperation in class/group
Essay, paper
Abstract, oral presentation.
Assessment
In order to pass this course, the following will be required of participants:
Active participation: 20%
Weekly assignments: 40%
Final assignment: draft (10%); final version (30%)
Regular, punctual attendance, thorough preparation of reading material, and continuous participation in plenary discussions are also expected.
Weighing
See above.
Late submissions will be subject to grade deduction.
Resit
There will be no resit for the course work (participation and weekly assignments), but individual submissions can compensate each other.
For the final essay, only a previous submission for the first attempt qualifies students for the resit, and only if that submission scored a failing grade. First attempts that received a passing mark (5.5 or higher) cannot be improved through further revision.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
All required readings will be announced on Brightspace and will be available through the Asian Studies library.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Herta Mohr)
Remarks
Note that this seminar is also a thesis course: students who wish to write their thesis in this module will still need to complete the course work, but their final grade will be the thesis grade; see the relevant section on the prospectus for more information about graduate theses.