Module manager: Dr David Pattinson
Email: d.pattinson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
EAST1065 China in (Premodern) East Asian History
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module provides a foundational survey of the history of East Asia up until the nineteenth century. It aims to equip students with an understanding of the emergence and evolution of the polities, societies, religions and cultures of China, Japan and Korea, as well as other countries and non-state actors in the region as appropriate. Attention will also be paid to cross-cultural influences and to the place of East Asia in the premodern world. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module aims to:
• Introduce students to major features in the histories, societies, politics, thought and cultures of premodern East Asia;
• Encourage awareness of what was distinct about the various polities and cultures in the region, but also how they evolved and influenced each other;
• Introduce some of the major debates about the history of East Asia;
• Encourage understanding of East Asia’s place in the premodern world, and of the influence of its past upon modern East Asia;
• Develop students’ ability to engage critically with primary sources from East Asia’s past, which might include literature, religious and philosophical texts, visual art, material culture, works of history, official documents and so on;
• Enhance students’ awareness of different inter-disciplinary approaches that can be applied to the study of premodern East Asia, developing their ability to evaluate secondary scholarship and to craft arguments in response.
• Encourage critique of common preconceptions and stereotypes about ‘East Asia’ by exploring the rich dynamics of historical and cultural change
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
1. demonstrate broad understanding of major features of the histories, societies and cultures of East Asia in premodern times;
2. compare knowledgably the polities, societies and cultures of premodern East Asia acknowledging the inherently interdisciplinary nature of East Asian Studies;
3. analyse a variety of sources used to study East Asian history in ways that show awareness of both their potential and their limitations.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
4. reflect critically on the work of professional scholars in fields relating to history;
5. integrate different views and communicate your analysis of them persuasively in writing;
6. apply the conventions and standards associated with scholarly discourse in studying East Asian history, including terminology, naming conventions, and document and citation formats.
7. Evidence basic skills in utilising digital resources for historical research, enabling you to navigate, evaluate, and incorporate digital tools in your academic work.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| Seminar | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Private study hours | 171 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 29 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students are monitored and provided with feedback through:
- engagement with discussions in seminars and lecture classes
- group-work and mini-presentations in seminars (non-assessed)
- engagement with activities (Q&A, knowledge checks) during lectures
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1,500-word review essay - Review of scholarship related to specific topics or types of sources. | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 3.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 25/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team