Valerie Hansen

Stanley Woodward Professor of History; DUS, East Asian Studies

Council on East Asian Studies , Buddhist Studies Initiative, Council on Middle East Studies

Research Interests:

China to 1600; Chinese Religious and Legal History; Social History of the Silk Road

Humanities Quadrangle, Room 238

Phone: 203-432-0480

valerie.hansen@yale.edu

Website

Courses

Archaia Seminar: Law and Society in China and Rome

HIST 502, ANTH 531, CLSS 815, EALL 773, HSAR 564, JDST 653, NELC 533, RLST 803

An introduction to the legal systems of the Roman and post-Roman states and Han- and Tang-dynasty China. Emphasis on developing collaborative partnerships that foster comparative history research. Readings in surviving law codes (in the original or English translation) and secondary studies on topics including slavery, trade, crime, and family.

course serves as an Archaia Core Seminar. It is connected with Archaia's Ancient Societies Workshop (ASW), which runs a series of events throughout the academic year related to the theme of the seminar. Students enrolled in the seminar must attend all ASW events during the semester in which the seminar is offered.

Seminar

Fall 2024

M 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM

China from Present to Past

HIST 321, EAST 220

Underlying causes of current issues facing China traced back to their origins in the premodern period. Topics include economic development, corruption, environmental crises, gender, and Pacific island disputes. Selected primary-source readings in English, images, videos, and Web resources.

Preference given to first years and sophomores.

Lecture

Fall 2024

T,Th 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Social History of the Silk Road

HIST 870

An introduction to the social history of the Silk Road from 200–1000 CE through close examination of six archaeological sites in China and one in Uzbekistan. Emphasis on excavated documents (as opposed to transmitted documents) and what they reveal about local society, trade relations, and religious change in the first millennium CE.

Those who read classical Chinese meet separately to read handwritten documents, but knowledge of classical Chinese is not required.

Seminar

Spring

M 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Explore more about Valerie Hansen

Publications

The Silk Road