HISTORY 251 ASIAN CIVILIZATION II: THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN ASIA
Instructor: SANJAY JOSHI
Meeting time: T-Th. : 12:24-2:00 PM, LA 204
Office: BS 205
Office Hours: T-Th. 11:00 - 12:00 and 2:10 - 3:10, and by appointment.
Phone: 523-6216 or 523-4378
E-mail: Sanjay.Joshi@nau.edu
Course Description
This course examines transformations in the lives of people and
governments in Asia from the 17th century to the mid-20th century.
Focussing on China, India, and Japan, we explore a history where all three
societies, in different ways, were brought in contact with, and then subordinated
to the interests of more powerful western powers. We examine the
transformations these societies underwent as a result of their interaction
with western expansionism, and the different strategies they adopted to
overcome and/or adapt to the changes they confronted.
History is the study of change in specific contexts. To understand the transformations that societies in Asia underwent, we need to know the contexts in which changes occurred. The first part of the course deals with the emergence of western hegemony over India, Japan, and China. The second part of the course will look at changes that came with foreign interventions. The third, and final part of the course examines the very different results produced by interactions with and/or resistance to colonialism in India, China, and Japan. Taken together these histories explain the broad contours of modern Asian society and politics.
Objectives and Approach
A study of modern Asian history confronts us with much that is
different and unique. One of the objectives of this course is to
become familiar with some of these differences. At the same time
however, this history also exposes us to general historical processes which
have not been unique to the history of Asia. This course therefore
involves trying to understand the nature of colonialism and nationalism,
reform and revolution, capitalism and communism, authoritarianism and liberal
democracy, and raises issues relating to gender, race, and class.
Understanding how some of these ideas and movements came about and
were negotiated by historical actors in specific contexts will be the major
objective of this course.
Some of the above issues are complex ones. Moving away from simplistic notions of a single "right"or "wrong" answer to a historical problem, this course will emphasize looking at history as an ongoing argument. This is not to deny the crucial importance of historical specificity, in fact quite the contrary. No argument can be persuasive unless it is based on adequate factual evidence. We will seek to understand historical explanations as more or less persuasively argued points of view, each backed up with better or worse historical evidence. We will therefore treat the subject matter of this course not as sets of given facts to be memorized, and regurgitated at exam time, but as products of historical processes that we investigate, write about, and discuss in the class. Careful reading, critical thinking, discussion, and good writing, are therefore of much more importance in this course than simply learning about dates and events.
Required Texts
The following books are available in the NAU bookstore.
1. Sugata Bose and Ayesha Jalal. Modern South Asia: History, Culture,
Political Economy. London, New York: Routledge, 1998.
2. Ranbir Vohra. China's Path to Modernization. Second
Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1987.
3. Kenneth B. Pyle. The Making of Modern Japan. Second
Edition. Lexington, Mass., Toronto: 1996.
IN ADDITION, other sections of books, journal articles, short stories, films or videos may be put on reserve in Cline Library and will be REQUIRED reading or viewing for this course. It will be the responsibility of the students to ensure that these are read or viewed by the assigned due dates.
Assignments
I Term Paper: You will write two short term paper between
5 to 7 pages in length on themes related to the course. Detailed
paper assignments will be handed out on the dates indicated on the course
schedule.
II. Mid-Term and Final Exams: There will be one final and one mid term exam. The mid term exam may have questions based on a map, short answer questions, and a section asking for identifications of major terms, names, places, or ideas from the course material. The nature of the final exam will depend on average performance of the class in the mid-term and two term papers. If necessary, there may be essay questions to answer in the final, in ADDITION to the type of questions included in the mid-term.
III. Scheduled Discussions: Three formal discussions have
been scheduled as part of this course. The class will be divided
into small groups to facilitate discussion. You will be given specific
questions or topics around which to frame the discussions a few days in
advance of the discussion day. On the day of the discussion you need
to come prepared with TWO copies of your notes on the discussion topics.
You will hand one copy of that to me, and use the other to participate
in the discussion.
ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE IN CLASS.
PLEASE NOTE: I do not give extensions, incompletes, or make-up exams,
except in cases allowed for by University Policy.
Plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any of the assignments, and will result in failing the course. Please consult the section on "Academic Integrity" in the NAU Policy Statements appended to this syllabus for further details. IT IS THE STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FAMILIARIZE HERSELF/HIMSELF WITH THESE MATTERS AS DEFINED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
Evaluation
Grades for the course will be determined according to the following
criteria:
Paper One 20%
Paper Two 20%
Final Exam 25%
Mid-Term Exam 20%
Discussion Notes and Participation 15%
TOTAL FOR COURSE 100%
The grading scale for the course will be as follows:
90%+ = A; 80 - 89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; below 60%= F.
Attendance and Course Policy
I expect regular class attendance of course, without which
there is no point in your being enrolled in this class, but I do not demand
it. Missing too many classes will undoubtedly and negatively impact
on your class performance. Absence from discussion groups will certainly
bring your grade down as there is no possibility of make-ups for that part
of the class.
If you miss a class, whatever your reasons for doing so, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to arrange to meet or call a classmate and find out what happened in that class. I also expect you to come to class having done all the required reading, and prepared to engage in discussion. Finally, I expect you to be motivated to learn about the subject, and to improve your skills as a historian.
Provisional Course Schedule (Subject to Modification)
Introduction
January 12 Introduction to the Course.
PART I: Towards Western Hegemony
Jan 14 Introduction to India: Region and Society
Readings: Bose and Jalal, chapters one and two
January 19-26 India: The Emergence and Consolidation of
British Power
Readings: Bose and Jalal, chapters three through eight.
(Jan 19, SKIM chapters three, four, and five, Jan 21, chapter six and seven;
Jan. 26, chapter eight).
January 28-February 4 China: Manchus and pressure from the West.
Readings: Vohra, chapters 1, 2, and 3. (One chapter
per class)
JANUARY 28 PAPER ONE ASSIGNED
February 09-18 Japan: The Tokugawa Shogunate and it's downfall.
Readings: Pyle, chapters 1 through 5. (Feb. 9, chapters
1-2; Feb. 11 chapters 3-4; Feb 16, chapter 5, Feb 18 screening of film
on the Meiji Restoration)
February 23 Comparative Colonial Experiences and Early Responses.
Readings: Revise Bose and Jalal, Vohra, and Pyle.
Discussion #1 Questions assigned.
February 25 Discussion #1: Nature of Colonialism in Asia.
March 2 MID TERM REVIEW
March 4 MID TERM EXAMINATION: The date of the mid term examination is subject to revision (to an EARLIER date) depending on University policy of mid-term grades.
March 8 to 12 SPRING BREAK.... ENJOY!! But finish that paper!!!
PART II: Colonialism, Reform, and Nationalism
March 16-23 Colonialism and Nationalism in India.
Readings: Bose and Jalal, chapters nine through thirteen.
(March 16, skim nine, read ten; March 18, eleven and twelve; March 23,
thirteen)
MARCH 16 PAPER ONE DUE
PAPER TWO ASSIGNED
March 25-30 Meiji Japan.
Readings: Pyle, chapters 6, 7, 8, 9. (March 25, chapters
6 and 7; March 30, chapter 8 and 9)
April 1-6 China: The Nationalist Revolutions
Readings: Vohra, chapters 4, 5, and 6. (April 1,
chapters 4 and 5; April 6, chapter 6)
Questions for DISCUSSION # 2 assigned.
April 8 Discussion # 2 : Comparative Nationalisms
PART III: Asia in the Modern World: Revolutions and
Empires
April 13 India: Towards Independence.
Readings: Bose and Jalal, chapters fifteen and sixteen.
April 15 Japan: War and Empire.
Readings: Pyle, chapters 10 and 11.
APRIL 20 PAPER TWO DUE
April 20-22 China: From Nationalist to Socialist Revolution.
Readings: Vohra, chapters 7, 8. (One chapter a class)
Questions for Discussion # 3 assigned April 20,
and CAN be submitted on April 22 to keep reading week free of assignments.
April 27 Discussion #3: Liberal Democracy, Fascism, and Communism.
April 29 Modern Asia: An End of Term Review.
May 4 FINAL EXAM 12.30 - 2.30 p.m.