This course surveys records of first cities in East Asia from primary textual and archaeological materials. From reconstructions of extant architectural remains to imperial urban plans and folkloric descriptions of early settlements in geographic texts, we will examine evidence that illustrates the impetus for urbanization and the growth of urban centers into nuclei of trade, religion, and cultural exchange. We will further discuss how cultural-political and cosmographic perceptions of natural and anthropogenic landscapes were manifested in approaches to the design and spatial organization of early cities.
Prerequisite: Basic proficiency in Classical and modern Chinese required.
- Profesor: Annie Chan