Mon.+March+12

The watershed between ancient Chinese history and modern Chinese history is the Opium War. This war was actually an encounter between the East and the West. After the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolutions and imperialist expansion, the West emerged as a dominant force in the world. In contrast, Chinese civilization declined significantly from a superior position to an inferior status because of its own Sino-centric mentality, conservatism and isolation, as well as aggressive challenges from the West. Macartney's diplomatic efforts failed to bring free trade to China. However, during the 19th century, the British cannon-policy forced China to open her doors. Chinese civilization met this unprecedented challenge from the West with humiliation that lasted for an entire century. Faced the fate of extinction and occupation, the Chinese rulers and people made painful transformation economically, politically and even culturally. It is this radical transformation that China survived critical crises, and made Chinese civilization continue.
 * __Mon. March 12: China’s Response to Western Challenges from 1840 to Early 20th Century__**
 * Questions:**
 * What factors led to the Opium War?
 * Why did China launch the Self-Strengthening Movement?
 * Why did China make top-down political reform in 1898 and why did it fail?
 * Why did Sun Yat-sen make a revolution to overthrow the Manchu rule?
 * Why did radical Chinese intellectuals demand “down with Confucianism” and welcome “Mr. Democracy and Science”?
 * Recommended Reading**: chapter 7 to 9, 11, 15, 20 and 21, Immanuel C.Y. HHHHsu, The of Modern China, 6th edition, Oxford, 2000



The Opium War (lecture) [] The Opium War (a movie) []
 * Documentary Movies:**