本课程主要讲授十至十九世纪的中国历史，所涉及时段大致与宋、元、明、清史重叠，但讲述视角与传统王朝史有所不同。本课程采用“单一与多元”、“内陆与海洋”、“礼教与商业”、“天下与万邦” 四条线索统摄近世中国历史，分别讨论“大一统的帝国与地方性的成长”、“海洋力量的冲击与影响”、“商业发展的实际与礼教伦理的规训”、“朝贡体系与外部世界”等涉及政治、经济、文化和对外关系各面向的重要问题，深入浅出地向本科学生介绍中国文明在现代之前的千年所经历的深刻变化，展现这一古老文明的内在活力，从而为学生理解今天中国的崛起提供长时段的历史参考。 The course focuses the history of imperial China from the tenth to nineteenth century with a wide view different with dynastical narratives. Four themes have been designed for the course which is “unity and diversity,” “inland and marine,” “orthodoxy and commerce,” “single heaven and multiple countries.” The themes cover all important facets of late imperial China, including politics, economy, culture and international relationships. The course introduces a colorful and dynamic world of traditional China before her modern times and will give students an in-depth reference to know China today.