Fall 2020

Japan's Empire in Asia, 1868–1945

Listed in: Asian Languages and Civilizations, as ASLC-370  |  History, as HIST-370

Faculty

Trent E. Maxey (Section 01)

Description

(Offered as HIST 370 [AS/TE] and ASLC 370) Japan, the only non-Western colonial empire to emerge during the second half of the nineteenth century, shaped itself and East Asia through imperialism. This course engages that history by paying attention to shifts in scholarly approaches to empire. We will consider, for example, how theories of imperialism and post-colonialism apply to Japan and East Asia. Then tracing the chronological rise and collapse of Japan’s empire, we will consider how the complex circulation of people, goods, ideas, and practices shaped Japan, as well as the colonial modernities of Taiwan, Korea, and Manchuria. 

This is an upper-level history course that explores interpretive approaches to Japanese imperialism. It will be offered both in-person on campus and online for those studying remotely. Assignments focus on historiographic analysis and comparison in the form of short papers and discussion presentations, culminating in a researched essay and a digital presentation on a topic of your choosing. Two class meetings per week.

Enrollment limite to 15 students. Fall semester. Professor Maxey.

HIST 370 - L/D

Section 01
W 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM ONLI ONLI
F 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM ONLI ONLI

This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.

ISBN Title Publisher Author(s) Comment Book Store Price
Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945 Durham, NC: Duke Univ. Press, 2010 Driscoll, Mark Amherst Books TBD
Japan Imperialism, 1853-1945 Ann Arbor, MI: Assoc. for Asian Studies, Inc., 2010 Huffman, James L. Amherst Books TBD
Shanghai Ann Arbor, MI: Center for Japanese Studies, 2001 Riichi, Yokomitsu Amherst Books TBD

These books are available locally at Amherst Books.

Offerings

2024-25: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2015, Spring 2019, Fall 2020