HIS 558 - Seminar in East Asia and the Modern World Credits: 3

A comparative look at major themes in the histories of China and Japan from earliest times to the present. Pre-modern topics include prehistory, the development of state Confucianism, the spread of Buddhism, roles of scholars and warriors, the impact of Inner Asia, political decentralization, gender, and peasant society. Includes study of how traditional cultures have been transformed as a result of contact with the West since the 19th century.