Dr. Nora Qiu

Biography

Nora Qiu is a historian of modern East Asia, specializing in the period from 1600 to 2000. Her research examines social interactions among diverse communities within the Qing Empire, the Republic of China, and the People’s Republic of China, with a particular focus on the ways power and identity have shaped social and economic development. She engages broader questions regarding the roots of inequality and the processes of modernization, conducting research in nine languages. Nora's academic monograph, "Living the Qing Way: Objects, Power, and Identity in Late Imperial China," is currently in preparation with Cornell University Press and scrutinizes cultural ethnic identity of the elite within the Qing Empire. Her book, "Encounters: The Qing Empire in 50 Objects," offers an engaging exploration of Qing China through a curated selection of objects that define its history, culture, and legacy. Nora is also working on a Manchu textbook titled "The Manchu State in Their Own Words: A Textbook and Sourcebook" aimed at teaching the Manchu language entirely in its original script. She received her Ph.D. in Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2022 and is set to join UCL as a lecturer in 2024.

Research Interests

Experience