Exhibition on the history of global connections opens at Belk Library on Dec. 7  

A student-organized exhibition on the second floor of Belk Library will reveal the global connections from an early modern Chinese perspective. The public is invited to attend its Dec. 7 opening.

The exhibit is unfolded into six parts as below. It uses objects from the collections of Elon University, private collections from class members, and images/maps from diverse sources.

• Political and Cultural Influence in 20th Century China through Art
• China from the Inside Out: Castiglione’s Legacy 
• Smoking as A Symbol of Social Status in 19th Century China
• The First Opium War 
• The Great Wall: Was It Really that Great?
• Global Trade of Silk in 20th Century Japan and China

The formal opening takes place in Belk Library, 2nd Floor, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 10:50 a.m. to noon. Refreshments will be provided.

By focusing on how China was woven into the emerging global network from the 15th century to the 20th century, this exhibit considers the global world from a historical perspective, including the spread of techniques, the formation of fashion, and the interdependence between cultural practice and natural environment. This exhibition brings attention to how commodities and cultural interactions generated new relations and expanded the horizon of early modern people.

This exhibition is designed by 27 students from the HST 132: “Globalization of China, 1500-1840” course led by Xiaolin Duan, assistant professor of history, with assistance from Ethan Moore, the curator of the Elon Art Collection.

For more information, contact Xiaolin Duan at xduan@elon.edu