Learn about Middle Period China: from ~100 CE to ~1400 CE

A university-level Chinese history course, from the late Han Dynasty through the Yuan Dynasty

Online Course with 16+ hours of video lessons (plus Q&A sessions!), just $299

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rated 4.8/5 by 1000's of Chinese learners

In this online course, you'll learn about:

• The Three Kingdoms Period

• The Northern and Southern Dynasties

• The Rise of Buddhism and Religious Daoism

• The Golden Age of China: the Tang Dynasty

• The Song Dynasty

• Neo-Confucianism

• The Conquest Liao and Jin Dynasties

• The Mongols in China

• and more!

Student Testimonials (previous courses)

Randy
USA (living in China)

Jim
USA

Susan
Taiwan (living in Australia)

Chris
USA (living in Finland)

Margreet
Netherlands (living in NZ)

Anand
India

Who is this for?

For History Buffs

Whether you're learning Chinese, or simply interested in Chinese history and culture, this course is for you. It will be taught entirely in English and requires no Chinese language ability. All primary sources will be given in translation.

For Chinese Learners

The period covered in this course is a fascinating and influential period of Chinese history—from the exciting and fateful Three Kingdoms period to the artistic and literary explotion during the Tang Dynasty, to the non-Han empires of the Liao, Jin, and Yuan, this course will enrich your understanding of Chinese culture.

Lifetime Access

The course is entirely self-paced, and like all of our courses, you'll still be able to access all of the materials after you're finished. No need to stress about time—you can go through the lessons on your own time, and ask us for help whenever you need it!

Curriculum

Week 1
Lesson 1: Three Kingdoms (220-280)
Lesson 2: Jin Dynasty and Sixteen Kingdoms (266-420)
Week 2
Lesson 3: Northern Dynasties (386-581)
Lesson 4: Southern Dynasties (420-589)
Week 3
Lesson 5: Daoism
Lesson 6: Buddhism

Week 4

Lesson 7: Sui-Early Tang Dynasty (581-710)
Lesson 8: Tang Women
Week 5
Lesson 9: High Tang (710-755)
Lesson 10: Late Tang (755-907)
Week 6
Lesson 11: Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127)
Lesson 12: Neo-Confucianism
Week 7
Lesson 13: Liao Dynasty (907-1125)
Lesson 14: (Jurchen) Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)
Week 8
Lesson 15: Southern Song (1127-1279)
Lesson 16: Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

About this course

This course will be taught live, as a combination of lectures and Q&A (though if you can't make it to the live sessions you can watch the recordings later). A midterm and final exam will be given, and a passing score at the end earns you a Certificate of Completion, which may serve as fulfillment of prerequisites for future courses!

It's structured like an undergraduate-level history survey course aimed at a general audience. The course will focus on the political, intellectual, and social developments from the Three Kingdoms period through the end of the Yuan Dynasty (roughly 300-1300). We will pay particular attention to the experiences of women and non-Han peoples in medieval China.

In each lesson, you'll be assigned a section from the Routledge Handbook of Imperial Chinese History. Most lessons will also have readings of excerpts from primary sources, such as tomb inscriptions, hagiographies, poetry, scriptures/sutras, letters, and more. (There’s no shortage of material from this period to choose from!) A list of further readings will also be supplied at the end of each lecture for those who want to learn more.

Your Instructor

Dr. Jennifer J. Bussio

Associate Professor, Brigham Young University

Jennifer J. Bussio holds a doctorate in East Asian Languages and Civilizations (Chinese) from Arizona State University with a focus on Chinese history and religion. Her research examines how Chinese religions, particularly Daoism, responded to the political and social turmoil caused by war and foreign conquest. Other research interests include ethnic identity and its construction, and non-Han peoples' experiences in China between the fourth and fourteenth centuries. Since 2018, she has taught history courses at a large, private university in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go at my own pace? Will I still be able to access the course once I've finished it?

Yes! You get lifetime access, so we'll keep everything available online so that you can go through it at your own pace and review it whenever you want to!

How much Chinese do I need to know to take this course?

None! This is not a language course, so it will be taught entirely in English. All readings will be in English, and primary sources will be given in English translation (and in the original Chinese, for those who wish to read the originals).

How long does the course take to complete?

There are 16 lessons, and we'll be doing two lessons per week. However, you can also complete the course on your own time, at your own pace!

How much time will it require per lesson?

The main readings from the textbook will be about 30 pages per week. There will be two lectures each week (you can attend live or watch the recording), and each will be about an hour.

Will I need anything (apps, etc.) in order to take the course?

The textbook for the course is the Routledge Handbook of Imperial Chinese History, edited by Victor Cunrui Xiong and Kenneth Hammond. You'll need a physical or digital copy of that, as your weekly reading assignments will come from that book.

Any additional readings will be provided to you in PDF form.

What does "lifetime access" mean?

In practical terms, it means the course materials will be available online for as long as Outlier is in business. If we do ever go out of business or otherwise need to remove the course for any reason, we'll make the material available for you to download for a period of at least 6 months.

Can I get a refund if I decide the course isn't for me?

Yes! We have a 30-day, no questions asked refund policy. If you decide you don't like the course for whatever reason, just reach out by then and I'll be happy to give you a full refund.

Will there be assignments or homework?

The assigments for each lesson will include a main reading from the textbook plus primary sources in translation. Supplemental (optional) readings will also be provided. Overall, about 30 pages of required reading on average per week.

Can we collaborate with other students or form study groups?

Definitely! Our live courses usually have a few hundred students enrolled, so there should be plenty of students of all backgrounds and interests in this course too.

And sure, working together is no problem! We'll have a private online community where you can work together, ask questions, share notes, etc.

Online Course with 16+ hours of video lessons (plus Q&A sessions!), just $299

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rated 4.8/5 by 1000's of Chinese learners

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We believe in the quality of our products and are committed to your satisfaction. That’s why we offer a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee on all purchases. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply contact us within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked.