ASH 3442   The Making of Modern Japan

Col of Arts, Soc Sci and Human, Department of History and Philosophy

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

This course examines Japan’s political, social, economic, and cultural developments from the 19th century to the present. It enables students to understand how Japan transitioned from a feudal society to one of the largest modern economies with strong cultural influences in merely a century. It also focuses on the costs to Japanese society and other East Asian countries of its industrialization, authoritarianism, colonialism, and imperialism. Nevertheless, students will learn how Japan became the first Asian country to achieve a level of modernity parallel to that of the West. No prior knowledge of Japan or Japanese is required, and the course is open to all majors.

ASH 3454   Age of the Samurai

Col of Arts, Soc Sci and Human, Department of History and Philosophy

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

This course examines the history of Japan from the twelfth century to the nineteenth century when the samurai, the hereditary warrior elites, governed Japan. Through historical documents, literature, and films, we study the origin and development of the samurai as the dominant political and social class. While this course focuses on the samurai and the institutions that governed Japan, we also examine the other social classes, such as the farmers, merchants, or the outcasts, that made significant economic and cultural contributions that supported the samurai rule. The course also investigates the cultural presentation of samurai in literature, folklore, and movies. Students will distinguish between historical reality and popular images surrounding the samurai, while gaining an in-depth understanding of Japanese society during this formative period in their history. The course is open to all majors; no prior knowledge is required.

ASH 4404   China Since the Opium War

Col of Arts, Soc Sci and Human, Department of History and Philosophy

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

This course examines the history of China from the 19th century to the present. You will learn about the most important period in Chinese history, “the Century of Revolution,” which is still ongoing. The three guiding questions of the course are 1) Why did China, one of the oldest civilizations at the center of the world economy until 1800, fail in the 19th and the early 20th century? 2) What contributed to China’s reemergence as a global power under communism in the 21st century? 3) What are the domestic and global ramifications of China’s rise and fall in the modern world? No prerequisites or prior knowledge of China are needed. The class incorporates a wide range of materials, including monographs, memoirs, movies, documentaries, and journalism.