At the center of historical change in urban China over the period we are examining is the evolving relationship between
scholar-officials and merchants. How did that relationship change between Ming and high Qing in the Suzhou area?
2. One of the things scholars seek to do is to move the conversation forward. Pomeranz has argued for basic equivalence
between the Yangzi Delta and the most developed parts of Europe circa 1750; others have challenged that notion. Evaluate
these claims in light of the available scholarship.
3. Rewrite SIX RECORDS from the perspective of Chen Yun.
4. Compare the world of a high Qing petty urbanite like Shen Fu with that of white collar workers in early twentieth century
Shanghai.
5. In what ways was early twentieth century Shanghai a continuation of the indigenous Chinese urban tradition? In what ways
did it depart from that tradition? On balance, were divergences or continuities more significant?
6. To what degree is contemporary Shanghai a lineal descendant of early twentieth century Shanghai? In what key ways does it
differ? On balance, are the continuities or the divergences more important?
