HST 137 - People and their Stuff in Chinese History

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR (students beginning prior to Fall 2024): Meets general academic requirements HU and DE.
From fine paintings and calligraphy in imperial collections to everyday household items like chopsticks and tea cups, and from the Great Wall to the small needle of the magnetic compass, objects and the way people interacted with them tell us much about China’s past. This course explores the historical context of some of the most iconic objects of Chinese history, and traces the link between China’s traditional material culture and the present. We also look at how attitudes towards objects and their historical significance have changed through the centuries.