The Mao Years

This course explores the phenomenal changes and catastrophic consequences of Mao Zedong's domination of China. Although the bulk of the class focuses on events following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to Mao's death in 1976, we will begin by looking at the China into which Mao was born in 1893 and trace his rise to power. We will also examine the legacy of the Mao years on contemporary Chinese politics and society. Students will analyze Mao's China through memoirs, films, visual propaganda, secondary analyses, and of course, Mao's Little Red Book.