This course is an introduction to the history of China, Korea, and Japan from 1600 to the present, with emphasis on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Main themes include: the cultural and socio-political dynamics of imperial, kingly, and feudal states (the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, the Tokugawa and Meiji regimes in Japan, and the Joseon dynasty in Korea); the expansion of Western imperialism during the nineteenth century and the revolutions, reforms, and realignments that it provoked; and the rise of China, Japan, and Korea into global economic powers during the twentieth century. In addition to exploring issues of class, ethnicity, and gender, specific topics include the end of dynastic rule and the rise of communism in China, Japan's emergence as an imperialist power, and Korea's efforts to assert autonomy in the face of colonialism and great power competition. Taking a broad comparative perspective on East Asia, the course explores the inter-relations between political economy, society, and culture in each country within an emerging modern world system. While this course is a chronological continuation of History 204, there are no prerequisites and no previous background on the subject is required.

Course Requirements:

Attendance, active participation in class discussions, two exams, reading quizzes, and short writing assignments

Intended Audience:

General audience; designed for students with no prior background

Class Format:

Two lectures per week plus one discussion section