Page 113 - SYU Prospectus

History

2) examine the relationship between these aspects and China’s history; and
3) introduce the scholarly achievements of Chinese historical geographers.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
a) understand the development and characteristics of China’s historical geography;
b) explicate the relationship between geography and social and political developments in
ancient China; and
c) evaluate the work of Chinese historical geographers.

HIST 362 History of Chinese Political Institutions
1 Term; 3 Credits
The course aims to provide a forum for analytical discussion rather than factual descrip-
tion. Its main emphasis is on why and how the development of the Chinese political institutions
came about, and how the latter affected or were affected by the Chinese system of govern-
ment, economy and social conditions. The course will go beyond the study of the institutions
concerned, into the correlations between individuals and social forces.

HIST 364 Chinese Business Community in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course discusses the millions of Chinese who migrated to Southeast Asia and Hong
Kong from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries to become overseas Chinese. While most of
them would remain in the lower social strata, working as labourers and shop assistants and
the like in the host countries, some would move up socially to become affluent members of the
Chinese business communities, with a few distinguished ones becoming entrepreneurs and
community leaders. How and why such diversification of socioeconomic patterns took place in
different overseas Chinese communities will be analysed in the context of the policy regimes
of the resident countries, and in the light of the successful playing out or otherwise of Chinese
business practices and entrepreneurship.

HIST 370 The Developmental Experience of Modern Western Economic Powers:
Study of Selected Cases
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course aims at tracing and analysing the rise of three western economic powers,
each with its unique resource-endowment in the modern times and implications for other
aspirant countries. It seeks to explain how insular Britain, landlocked Germany and continent-wide
United States could all succeed in pioneering the establishment of an industrialized economic
system, and how their individual policy regimes tackled problems arising at various phases of
the Industrial Revolution since the mid-18th century. Besides domestic growth, the subject
also covers the global expansion of these economies till the outbreak of the First World War,
after which the economic balance began to tilt towards the United States.

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