HIST 280 East Asia in the Nineteenth Century

The nineteenth century was a pivotal era in the history of East Asia. China, Korea, and Japan responded to pressures at home and abroad in ways that left each country dramatically transformed by the beginning of the twentieth century. This seminar is intended as an introduction to the breadth and depth of the changes that took place in the three countries during this period, with particular emphasis on linkages across national borders. We will read a wide variety of scholarly studies and primary sources in translation as we examine topics including: the legacy of early modern political and cultural forms; encounters with Western imperial powers; the rise of nationalism; rebellions; and the emergence and regional consequences of Japanese imperialism.