This course aims to introduce the different approaches in understanding different civilizations, their encounter, interaction and conflicts. It will first introduce the different theories of understanding world civilizations, e.g. their characteristics, strength and weakness, and their grandeur and decline. It will also discuss, with illustration of literary work and films examples, interaction and conflict between civilizations, e.g. China and the West, Christian and Muslim, the “discovery” of America, etc. It will serve as an introductory course for cultural studies by providing basic knowledge and methods in the study of culture and civilization.

Introduction to World Civilization