CLS 167 - Understanding Cultures: Modern China

1. Describe the external unity that links East Asian societies together and the diversity that distinguishes East Asian societies from one another.
   • Define the term, “East Asia” and identify the main societies that compose the region.
   • Define the term, “culture,” and explain how the concept of culture applies to East Asia in general and China in particular.
   • Explain why it is important to understand the history and culture of the East Asia in general and China in particular.
   • Provide specific examples of the historical development of East Asia and China in particular and their influence on human behavior in the contemporary era.
   • Compare and contrast the culture of China with that of Japan and other societies of East Asia.
2. Describe and provide examples of the diverse sociocultural and demographic attributes of China.
   • Summarize the main sociocultural and demographic attributes of China relating to race, ethnicity, nationality, and language.
   • Summarize the main sociocultural and demographic attributes of China relating occupation, education, social class, and rural-urban residency.
   • Describe the sociocultural role of religion in general and Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism in China. 
   • Identify important minority groups of China and discuss the impact of past and present discriminatory policies and perceptions upon them.
   • Identify significant examples of Chinese norms and values, including those relating to marriage and family, gender, social networks, recreation and leisure, political authority, and economic relations in the workplace and society.
3. Explain how geography and the natural environment have impacted the sociocultural, economic, and political development of China.
   • Describe the physical geography and natural environment of China and how it varies by region.
   • Identify important cities, rivers, mountain ranges, and other geographic points of interest in China, and describe the influence of such places in Japanese history and contemporary society.
   • Provide examples of social problems and political issues in modern China that are related to the natural environment.
   • Analyze the impact of geography and the natural environment on the economy in China.
   • Evaluate the impact of geography and the natural environment on the sociopolitical development of China.
4. Explain the importance of China in the ancient, medieval, and modern world, and summarize the historical evolution of China from the earliest times to the present.
   • Describe the early origins, cultural commonalities, and contributions to the world of Chinese civilization.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of China in the prehistoric and ancient eras.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of China in the medieval eras.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of China in the modern era.
   • Evaluate the impact of Mongolian, Manchurian, European, American, Japanese, and Russian (Soviet) intrusion on the cultural, economic, and political development of China.
5. Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese society, including the role of social institutions, political institutions, economic institutions, educational institutions, and religious institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese social institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese political institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese economic institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese educational institutions and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Chinese religious institutions and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
6. Explain the significance of the arts and humanities, mass media, technology, and popular culture in the evolution of Japanese society and culture.
   • Summarize the role of the arts and humanities, mass media, technology, and popular culture in China.
   • Provide examples of how the arts and humanities, mass media, or popular culture, have influenced the evolution of Chinese society and culture.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between China and the West relevant to the arts and humanities and provide relevant examples.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between China and the West relevant to mass media and popular culture and provide relevant examples.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between China and the West relevant technology and provide relevant examples.
7. Explain the impact of Chinese imperialism, Western imperialism, Japanese imperialism, Russian imperialism, civil wars, world wars, Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, and the Cold War, on the historical development of modern Chinese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of Chinese imperialism on the historical development of modern Chinese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of Western, Russian, and Japanese imperialism on the historical development of modern Chinese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of World War One on the historical development of modern Chinese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of the Chinese Civil War and World War Two on the historical development of modern Chinese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and the Cold War on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.