Module manager: Dr Adam Cathcart
Email: a.cathcart@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module focuses on the history of People’s Republic of China between 1949 and 1976. At its centre is the controversial historiography of Mao Zedong - the rebel, ideologue, and general who brought both strength and suffering to China. Mao and his agenda propelled the country into massive political movements, such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, creating devastating human impacts but also forging new political patterns. This module will also examine Mao's competitive relationships with leading politicians of the time, and his handling of major policy problems. 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.
The purpose of this module is to enable you to understand the various components of the foundations of communist power in the People’s Republic of China. We will engage with the complex and contested historiography surrounding Mao Zedong and critically assess the impact of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution on the development of modern China. Lectures will provide you with an overview of relevant historical and historiographical background, while seminars will focus critically evaluating primary and secondary sources.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Assess the development of communist power in the People’s Republic of China in the mid-twentieth century.
2. Critically evaluate the sources, methods and arguments used by historians of modern China, especially historians of Mao.
3. Critically analyse primary sources to present interpretations about the history of modern China.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Evaluate information from secondary sources and historiographical debates to conduct rigorous historical analysis.
5. Articulate coherent evidence-based arguments.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Lectures | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 179.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Participation in class discussions will enable you to build subject knowledge and analytical skills that will feed into the summative assessments. You will be offered an individual meeting prior to the submission of the essay to discuss your essay plan and receive feedback. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on a non-assessed role-playing activity and are encouraged to bring ideas from this exercise into your assessment. You will also receive feedback from the tutor on OTLA preparation exercises undertaken in class.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 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 | 2.0 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: 02/05/2025
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