China has a long history, one that we can examine only briefly in this course. The look back will be divided into four periods - the dynastic era, the pre communist era, the communist era, and the post communist era - and for each there will be a some readings, and for the last three there will be a movie. In addition to the chapters from Naughton that are on the schedule, you should check out the Sources link on the China Reading List accessible from the class homepage.

Part 1: The dynastic era

1. The pre communist era can itself be divided into two separate period - the dynastic periods extending back to the Shang dynasty from about 1500 BC to the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911 - and the Republic era that replaced the dynasties and lasted until 1949. In the movie we will pick up the story of China in the 20th century, so your job is to do a little research on the dynastic period. More specifically, we will be adding to an annotated timeline of China's history and you need to form a partnership (team of 2) and then find a dynasty that you will become an "expert" on for a brief presentation and report. To give you an example of what I am interested in for the timeline, I have included a brief description of the Shang dynasty.  There will be no duplication so be sure to post your selection to the discussion list "class info" because the 1st to post it gets the choice. Also, you should provide me with an electronic copy that I will grade and get back to you. I will also post to the timeline - so make it ready for prime time. You also need to prepare a brief presentation for the class. Be prepared to discuss your choice in class.

Part 2: Pre communist

1. You are to read chapter 2 from Naughton and be prepared to discuss it in class. More specifically I want you to be prepared to discuss the roots - both domestic and international - to the end of dynastic rule in China. You also need to be able to answer the following specific questions:

1. What did Naughton mean with the phrase, “Treaty Port Industrialization and Manchurian Industrialization?”
2. How did the pressures of a large, and primarily rural population affect the structure of industry in China and its international competitiveness once the process of globalization matured in the 19th century?
3. What was the link between China's economy, the balance of payment, European imperialism, and opium?

2. The dynastic era ended in 1911 and was replaced by the Republic, which in turn, was replaced by the Communists in 1949. These were important years in China's history, ones that helped define modern China, but also ones with which you are probably unfamiliar. So you will once again need to do a little research on the pre communist era (1911-1949) where you will be adding to an annotated timeline of China's history and find an event / person that plays an important role in China's development. You will need to post to the discussion page what you will be doing so there is no duplication. You should write up a brief description that can be added to the China timeline. There will be no duplication so be sure to post your selection to the discussion list "class info" because the 1st to post it gets the choice. You should email me an electronic copy of you work that I will post to the timeline. Be prepared to discuss your choice in class.

Part 3: Communist eras

1. You are to read chapter 3 from Naughton and be prepared to discuss it in class. You also need to be able to answer the following specific questions:

1. What was Mao's strategy for bringing socialism to China?
2. How was China's socialism related to the Soviet model developed by Stalin?
3. What was the major difference between China's development strategy and that of other East Asian countries at that time. As you work on this be sure you understand the significance of the statement: “Look at economy as series of value chains connecting industries from resource extraction to business machinery to final consumer & business products”

Part 4: Post communist era

1. The economic success story of the 1980-2007 period has been China, and that growth can be in large part attributed to the policies that were instituted by Deng Xiaoping. You are to read chapter 4 from Naughton and be prepared to discuss this era in class. You also need to be able to answer the following specific questions:

1. A key part of Deng's strategy, and with Mao's earlier strategy, was the treatment of the rural peasants. What were the major differences between the two approaches? 
2. What role did the SEZs and foreign direct investment play in Deng's policies?
3. What happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 - why did it happen - and how can you explain the government's actions in terms of China's history?
4. What was the role of the "dual track system" in Deng's initial development strategy and what are the major differences between the pre and post 1993 development strategies? What was the difference between "reform without losers" and "reform with losers" and why was it so important to have the first rather than rush immediately into the second?