Course detail: The First Emperor: The Art, Archaeology and Culture of Early Imperial China
In the late 3rd century BCE, the state of Qin achieved a monumental feat: the unification of most of China Proper, an imperial order that would endure until the 20th century. How was this accomplished and how did this new creation take shape to become the longest-lasting regime in East Asia? The famed terra cotta warriors of Xi'an are but one part of this saga, and the starting point for our archaeological investigation of this subject.
Instructor Bio: Robert Thorp taught at Princeton and Washington University in St. Louis for 25 years followed by a second career as tour lecturer in China and Japan. His publications include Chinese Art and Culture (2001), China in the Early Bronze Age (2006), and Visiting Historic Beijing (2008). He has visited China more than 50 times.
Course pre-requisites(required) Osher Membership Fee