In this inaugural offering of the Humanities in Class Mini Course, participants will gain introductory knowledge of China under the Ming dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644 CE. During that time, Chinese consumer goods like silk and porcelain were at the center of the world economy, and Chinese drama, literature, art, and religion flourished. Participants will engage with readily available online resources, digital collections, and archives that will build context for understanding the complex society of Ming. More specifically, the module explores Chinese and European trade, elite women’s access to and contributions to literature, differences between fine art and objects for use, Ming Confucianism, and interactions with westerners like Matteo Ricci. With customized scholarly vignettes and literary, artistic, and religious analyses embedded throughout, this training module will benefit teachers at all levels.
