魏晉南北朝乃繼春秋戰國之後另一個紛擾混亂的時代，各領域發展皆對後世有深遠影響。由於作為基本文獻的正史是以政治史為書寫中心，故本課程仍以政治史作為基本背景，另規劃專題作為延伸內容。
課程按政治演進時序安排，上起漢末動亂，下迄楊隋統一，（一）和（二）分以魏晉十六國和南北朝政治史為主軸，各立導論和五章，共計十二單元；另外規劃統治體制、民族文化、社會經濟和學術文化等四大專題，並提供參考資料，讓修課同學針對有興趣的專題來選讀，以補充授課之不足。透過教師講授政治史並輔以課堂問答的方式，讓同學能有更多的參與。
上課方式以老師講授和PPT教學為主。每講提供若干閱讀資料讓學生自由選讀，以配合進度並掌握基本內容。每講結束後，讓學生以自由發言的形式參與申論題的討論，培養學生思辯的能力，奠定歷史研究的基礎。

Historical Context
The Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties (魏晋南北朝) constituted a period of profound upheaval following the Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras. Developments across all domains during this era exerted lasting influence on later generations. Given that the official histories—our foundational texts—center on political narratives, this course retains political history as its core framework, supplemented by specialized thematic extensions.
Chronological Structure
The curriculum progresses along political timelines:
Time Span: From the late Han turmoil to Sui reunification under Emperor Wen
Two-Part Framework:
Part I: Wei-Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms politics
Part II: Southern and Northern Dynasties politics
Each part comprises an introduction + 5 chapters (12 units total)
Thematic Extensions
Four interdisciplinary modules supplement core political history: governance structures, ethnic-cultural dynamics, socio-economic transformations, and intellectual traditions.
Curated reference materials allow students to explore topics of individual interest, enriching lecture content.
Pedagogical Approach
Primary Method: Instructor-led lectures with PPT support
Supplementary Materials: Optional readings per lecture to reinforce key concepts
Interactive Learning:
Open discussions on essay questions after each unit
Emphasis on critical debate to cultivate analytical skills
Foundation-building for historical research methodologies