Students

AHIS343 – Early China: History and Archaeology

2014 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Gunner Mikkelsen
Contact via gunner.mikkelsen@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp or (6cp in AHIS or AHST or MHIS or HIST units at 200 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is a study of selected topics in early Chinese history and archaeology, including: Shang oracle bones and bronzes; the unification of China and the tomb complex of the First Emperor; the rise of the Han empire; the influence of nomadic peoples of the steppes; the Historical Records of the Grand Historian Sima Qian; the Silk Road; the cosmopolitan civilisation of the Tang; Confucianism; Daoism; Buddhism and other foreign religions in China.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

General Assessment Information

Assessment criteria

The Tutorial Paper will be marked against the following criteria: (1) analysis of the primary source(s), (2) use of secondary works, (3) structure of argument, (4) formal presentation, including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation.

The Essay will be marked against the following criteria: (1) knowledge of the relevant subject matter, (2) the range of primary sources used and their analysis, (3) the range of secondary works consulted and the depth of engagement with them, (4) correct citation of sources, (5) structure of argument, (6) formal presentation including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Submission of assessment tasks

The Essay and Tutorial Paper must be submitted with cover-sheet (pdf) by e-mail to the unit convenor.

Extensions and penalties

Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and may only be sought in consultation with the unit convenor and before the assignment is due.

Assessment tasks / assignments are compulsory and must be submitted on time. As a general rule, extensions will not be granted without a valid and documented reason (e.g. medical certificate). Late submissions will be penalised by 2% for each day (including weekends) the assignment task is late. No assignments will be accepted after assignments have been corrected and feedback has been provided.

Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.

For Disruption to Studies Policy see under Policies and Procedures.

Completing the unit

To complete the unit satisfactorily, students must listen to the lectures and reflect on them and do the set weekly readings. They must submit all items of assessment and hand in work which is formatted in accordance with Department of Ancient History guidelines, spell-checked, written in good English, and demonstrating both an understanding of the material in the lectures and readings and independent reflection on the subject of the assessment.

An overall mark of 50% or above must be achieved to complete the unit satisfactorily.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Tutorial Paper 20% Monday Week 5
Essay 40% Friday Week 9
Exam 40% TBA

Tutorial Paper

Due: Monday Week 5
Weighting: 20%

One tutorial paper of maximum 500 words. This should answer one of the (sets of) tutorial questions given (in iLearn) for the first half of the session. You must submit it with cover-sheet (pdf) by e-mail to the unit convenor. Feedback for tutorial papers will usually be given within two weeks after submission.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Essay

Due: Friday Week 9
Weighting: 40%

One major essay of approximately 2,500 words on a topic selected from a list of essay titles which will be distributed in Week 3. The essay must be supplied with footnotes and a complete bibliography of primary and secondary sources recorded according to one of the accepted conventions (see www.anchist.mq.edu.au under Teaching Materials). You must submit it with cover-sheet (pdf) by e-mail to the unit convenor. Feedback and a mark will be given within three weeks after submission.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Exam

Due: TBA
Weighting: 40%

One 2-hour exam. This written examination will take place in the examination period.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Delivery and Resources

Lectures:  2-hr lectures are on Mondays 9-11.

This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. All lectures will be recorded and made available here via the Echo360 system.

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

Materials are available for the unit in the Library's e-Reserve and Reserve; see further the Detailed Bibliography for the unit in iLearn.

Required texts:

EBREY, Patricia B.: The Cambridge illustrated history of China (Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996; 2nd ed. 2010).

HANSEN, Valerie, The open empire: a history of China to 1600 (New York & London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000).

Recommended texts:

DE BARY, William Theodore & Irene BLOOM, Sources of Chinese tradition, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999).

GERNET, Jacques: A history of Chinese civilization, 2nd ed. (Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

LEWIS, Mark E., The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han (Cambridge, Mass. & London: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007).

PORTAL, Jane (ed.), The first emperor: China’s terracotta army (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2007).

Unit Schedule

Week Date Lecture    
1 Week starting 4 August Introduction    
2 Week starting 11 August Neolithic Period & Shang dynasty    
3 Week starting 18 August (1) Eastern Zhou; (2) Warring States    
4 Week starting 25 August Philosophical foundations: Confucius, Mencius, Laozi    
5 Week starting 1 September Unification of China: the First Emperor and the Qin dynasty    
6 Week starting 8 September Tomb complex of the First Emperor    
7 Week starting 15 September (1) Rise of the Han empire; (2) Sima Qian, the Grand Historian    
    Mid-session break (20 September – 6 October)    
8 Week starting 6 October No teaching - public holiday    
9 Week starting 13 October Restoration and demise of the Han    
10 Week starting 20 October Introduction of Buddhism into China    
11 Week starting 27 October Between the Han and the Tang    
12 Week starting 3 November Cosmopolitan empire of the Tang    
13 Week starting 10 November Christians and Manichaeans in China    

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper
  • Essay
  • Exam

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper
  • Essay
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper
  • Essay
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper
  • Essay
  • Exam

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Ability to find, analyse and interpret primary and secondary sources and present the information in a written format to a high standard
  • Ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas to an advanced level
  • Ability to plan, revise and submit work according to the unit schedule
  • Appreciation of how historical information may be extracted from ancient remains

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper
  • Essay
  • Exam