Issues:

• Problems posed by early 19th century European expansion in China
• Structure of the "Unequal Treaty" system
• Varieties of Chinese response

Activities:

• Presentation by Dr. Spendelow
• Class discussion

Resources:

• term sheet:  China's Revolutionary Century

Readings:

Discussion:

1. Nathan, A.J. & J. Esherick, "Imperialism in China," Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars, 4.4 (Dec 1972), pp. 2-16

Background:

1. Cohen, Paul A.  Discovering History in China:  American Historical Writing on the Recent Chinese Past (NY: Columbia University Press, 1984), ch. 3, "Imperialism:  Reality or Myth?"
2. Anderson, David L.  Imperialism and Idealism:  American Diplomats in China, 1861-1898 (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1985)
3. Wakeman, Frederic.  Strangers at the Gate:  Social Disorder in South China, 1839-1861 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966)