HIST 372 Modern Civilizations of Asia

A broad introduction to the historical transformations of government and society in Asia from the 16th Century onward. Focusing on China, Japan, India, and southeast Asia, a number of inter-related themes will be explored: the cultures of these regions, the different ways in which they were brought under the influence of western powers, the subsequent transformations and adaptations these societies underwent, and the sometimes painful emergence of new nation states in Asia. Topics such as capitalism, cross-cultural encounter, resistance, governance, gender, social inequality, institutional change, nationalism, and revolution will form the critical focus of this course.