Jonathan Skaff
Due: Mon., Dec. 13 at 5 pm
Electronic Copy to Turnitin.com
Hard copy to DCH 221 or my History Office mailbox
Length: 6 to 10 pages, double-spaced in 12-point font
Topic: In The Open Empire, Valerie Hansen challenges the utility of the dynastic cycle for understanding Chinese history (pp. 5-6). To what extent do you agree with her? Write a paper in which you evaluate to role of the dynastic cycle in shaping the history of the Imperial China from 221 BCE to 1644 CE by discussing what you feel are the four most important trends that occurred in this period of history.
For each trend: 1) explain why it is important and 2) evaluate the influence of the dynastic cycle on it. In considering the role of the dynastic cycle, you may find it helpful to consider some or all of the following questions: 1) To what extent did the ruling elite of particular dynasties initiate, facilitate, retard, or stop the important historical trends? Was the influence of elites the result of conscious decisions or the unintended consequences their policies? 2) In cases where the dynastic elite did not have influence over these trends, what other members of society mattered? If non-human forces were decisive, what social, economic, or other kinds of impersonal forces were involved?
The content grade will be based on your choice of trends, your analysis of the dynastic cycle’s influence on the trends, and your ability to support arguments with persuasive evidence from the notes and reading assignments.
Ground Rules:
80% of the grade will be based on content. The other 20% will be based upon grammar (4%), spelling, punctuation, and capitalization (4%), organization (4%), readability (4%), and citations and bibliography (4%).