Modern Chinese History
Mid-term Exam
This part use short answer for each questions.
- Identification List: In a short paragraph, describe what each person/place/thing is, its historical timeframe, and
why it was historically significant. To make a claim about its historical significance, you must
relate this person/place/thing to one of the of the following core themes from the course: 1) Life and Society in Dynastic China; 2) State-Building and Revolutionary Ideologies;
3) Literature, Intelligentsia, and Modern Society; 4) Women, Labor, and Cultural Heritage; 5) Foreign Relations and Economic Development
Student Must Complete Any Ten Identifications of Their Choosing from Below, But Must Select
At Least One From Each Category:
- Religion and Spirituality
- Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, the Jesuits, Matteo Rici, Three Teachings are
One Movement, Rites Controversy
- Rebellions and Conflict
- Taiping, The Opium Wars, Conquest Dynasty, Li Zicheng, White Lotus Rebellion,
Miao, Lin Zexu, Nian Rebellion
iii. Society and the Arts`
- The Golden Lotus, Foot-binding, Ming Female Authors, Civil Service Examination,
Banner System, Liang Qichao, Self-Strengthening Movement, Yung Wing
- Political Figures
- Hongwu Emperor, Heshen, Cixi, Sun Yatsen, Yuan Shikai, Kang Youwei
- Governance
- Baojia, Lijia, The Censorate, Village Elder System, Fish-Scale Registers, Hundred
Days Reform, Single Whip Tax System/Yellow Registers, Grand Council, Self-
Strengthening, Three Feudatories, Zongli Yamen
- Commerce
- Bimetallic System, Grand Canal, Silver and the Tea Trade, Putting Out System/Silk
Road, Lord MaCartney, Unequal Treaties, Tribute System
vii. Regions and Provinces
- Manchuria, Yellow River Valley, North China Plain, Canton, Sichuan, Xinjiang,
Tibet, Inner Asia, Mongolia
This part write 2-3 pages essay
- Essay Exam Question
- Prior to 1911, which Chinese ruler had the most successful reign and why? And which was the
least successful and why? With each, be sure to make a claim (thesis) about what factor
(historical circumstances, technology, a stable society, leadership, etc.) proved decisive in
making their reign a success or failure. In making your choice, be sure to reference historical
examples and evidence from the course readings and lectures. You may want to consider
criteria such as state-building and security, the economy, foreign relations, society and the arts,
and the handling of rebellions. Write in a traditional essay format, complete with an
introduction where you make your claim, body paragraphs, and a conclusion where you restate
your claim and its supportive reasoning or evidence found in the body paragraphs.
