This course is intended to help students understand China's evolution from its imperial past into a modern present by examining the impact of the Opium War and other popular revolts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the social and cultural conflicts between western civilization and traditional Confucianism after 1911, and the rise of diverse political movements after the creation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.