历史, 是一个国家和民族的集体记忆，也是其精神家园。一个国家如果没有自己的历史，就不可能形成自己的文化和民族精神，就不可能形成民族凝聚力，就没有自立于世界民族之林的根基！当代大学生要了解自己国家和民族的历史，特别是了解近代以来的历史和中华人民共和国的历史，了解近代以来和当代中国的基本国情。这样，才能知道我们的国家是怎样来的，我们的国家将要到哪里去和不会到哪里去。
中国近现代史是指1840年鸦片战争到今天的历史。包括中国近代史和中国现代史。其中，从1840年鸦片战争到1949年中华人民共和国成立前为中国近代史。1949年中华人民共和国成立以来到今天为中国现代史。
“中国近现代史纲要”是中国普通高等学校大学生的必修课，既是一门对大学生进行爱国主义教育和科学历史观教育的思想政治理论课，也是一门帮助大学生增长人生智慧的人文素质课。课程围绕实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦这一主题，以近代以来中国人民反对外来侵略、争取国家独立与民族解放以及中国由封闭走向开放，扩大国际参与，步入世界民族之林，逐步走近世界舞台中央的历史进程；近代以来中国人民通过社会革命，解放和发展生产力，在社会主义道路建设现代化强国的历史进程；近代以来中国人民向西方寻找真理，并在这个过程中选择马克思主义和推动马克思主义中国化的历史进程为逻辑主线，讲述中国人民在实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史征程中经历的刻骨铭心的磨难、进行的感天动地的奋斗、创造的彪炳史册的伟业。
帮助大学生了解国史、国情，了解中国近现代史的主流、本质和发展规律，深刻领会历史和人民怎样选择了马克思主义，选择了中国共产党，选择了社会主义道路，选择了改革开放；深刻认识中国特色社会主义道路是在改革开放四十多年的伟大实践中走出来的，是在中华人民共和国成立近七十多年的持续探索中走出来的，是在对近代以来一百八十多年中华民族发展历程的深刻总结中走出来的，是在对中华民族五千多年悠久文明的传承中走出来的，具有深厚的历史渊源和广泛的现实基础。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，是近代以来特别是新中国建立以来中国历史发展的必然结果，坚持和发展中国特色社会主义是实现中华民族伟大复兴的必由之路。从而，增强当代大学生对中国特色社会主义的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信和文化自信。
课程共设计11个教学单元，分为1个绪论、10个专题进行讲述，主要供普通高等学校大学生在线学习，也适合作为开设本课程的各类学校开展“翻转课堂”教学改革的在线学习资源。本门课程的学习方式为在线学习、课堂讨论、线下阅读与社会实践相结合。我们也给大家提供了拓展阅读的资料和走入历史现场，感悟历史的社会实践的方案。
History is the collective memory and spiritual home of a country and a nation. If a country has no history of its own, it is impossible to form its own culture and national spirit, it is impossible to form national cohesion, there is also no foundation for self-reliance in the world's national forest! Present-day college students should understand the history of their own country and nation, especially the history of modern times and the history of the People's Republic of China, and the basic national conditions of modern and contemporary China. In this way, we can know how our country came, where our country will go and where will not go.
The modern and contemporary history of China refers to the history since the Opium War in 1840. It includes contemporary Chinese history and modern Chinese history. Among them, from the Opium War of 1840 to the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949, it is a modern Chinese history. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it has become a contemporary Chinese history.
The Outline of Modern and Contemporary Chinese History is a compulsory course for college students in China. It is not only a course of ideological and political theory for patriotism and scientific history education, but also a course of humanistic quality to help college students increase their wisdom in life. Focusing on the theme of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the course takes a logic clue of three historical processes. First, the historical process of Chinese people's opposition to foreign aggression, striving for national independence and national liberation, China's transition from closure to opening up, expanding international participation, joining the world's national forest and gradually approaching the historical process of the center of the world stage. Second, through social revolution, emancipating and developing the productive forces, Chinese people have been building a modernized and powerful country on the socialist path in this historical process. Third, with the advent of modern times, the Chinese people have sought the truth from the West. And in this historical process, they have chosen Marxism and advanced the sinification of Marxism. The course tells a story of the Chinese people, who have weathered unforgettable hardships, waged earthshaking struggles, and created splendid achievements in the historical journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The course aim to help college students understand the history and national conditions of China, the mainstream, essence and law of development of modern and contemporary history of China, to deeply comprehend how the history and people chose Marxism and the Communist Party of China, and how they chose the socialism path and reform and opening-up. To understand profoundly that we are able to embark on this path thanks to the great endeavors of reform and opening up made in the past 40-plus years, the continuous quest made in the 70-plus years of the People’s Republic of China, a thorough review of the evolution of the Chinese nation in its 180-plus years of modern history, and carrying forward the 5000-years of Chinese civilization. This path is deeply rooted in history and broadly based on China’s present realities. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. It is the inevitable result of the development of Chinese history since modern times, especially since the founding if New China. Adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Thus, the present-day college students’ confidence in the path, theories, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics can be enhanced.
The course consists of 11 Teaching units, which are divided into 1 introduction, 10 special topics. It is mainly for college students to learn online, and it is also suitable for all kinds of schools offering this course to carry out the teaching reform of "flipped classroom" as online learning resources. This course is based on online learning, classroom discussions, offline reading and social practice. We also provide you with information to expand reading and access to the historical scene, understanding of the history of social practice programs.