75722 - History of Eastern Asia (1) (LM)

Course contents

The course aims at analyzing, from a critical perspective, Japanese political, institutional, economic and social history in the context of East Asia- with particular regard to China and Korea - since the mid-Nineteenth century up to the beginning of this century.

The course will focus more specifically on the processes that in the second half of the Nineteenth century led to the dissolution of the traditional "tributary system", to the entrance of East Asian countries in the so-called "World system" and to their "modernization"; on the main stages of Japan's colonial expansion in Asia and on the Pacific War. The alliance system that since the end of the 1940s connected East Asian countries and the conflict between the Atlantic Alliance and the Soviet Union - as well as the possibility of a new Asian cooperation - will be then outlined.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for students attending the lectures:

The exam will be based substantially on the notes taken during the course. The reference bibliography (useful also to prepare, besides works suggested during the course, the initial, extra-notes topic) is:

- Rosa Caroli, Francesco Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Roma, Bari: Laterza, [chapters V-X]

- Joshua A. Fogel (ed.), The Teleology of the Modern Nation-State (Japan and China), Philadelphia, Penn.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005 [ 3, 5, 7]

- Kevin Cooney, Japan's Foreign Policy Since 1945, New York, M.E. Sharpe, 2006 (or 2007) [ chapters 3, 5, 7 ].

 

During the lectures, further reading suggestions, as well as historiographic deepenings, will be provided.

 

Bibliography for students not attending the lectures:

- Rosa Caroli, Francesco Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Roma, Bari: Laterza, [chapters IV-X]

- Joshua A. Fogel (ed.), The Teleology of the Modern Nation-State (Japan and China), Philadelphia, Penn.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005 (3, 5, 7]

- Kevin Cooney, Japan's Foreign Policy Since 1945, New York, M.E. Sharpe, 2006 (or 2007) [chapters 3, 5, 7 ].

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Suggested Readings:

In case the students, both attending the lectures and not, would like to deeepen some topics, the following texts are recommended:

Rosa Caroli, Francesco Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Roma, Bari: Laterza;

particularly for the period since WWI to the Fourties: F. Gatti, Il Fascismo giapponese, Milano, FrancoAngeli, any edition.

 

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures; students' active participation will be encouraged.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Oral exam, meant to assess the general level of  competence in the discipline and the critical and methodological skills the student acquired. The assessment will consider the student's:

- general knowledge and understanding of the covered topics

- competence in contextualizing the events, both in cronogical and geopolitical terms

- competence and critical familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his/her ability to use it effectively

- ability to summarize and analise themes and concepts.

Top marks will be awarded to students displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures combined with a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.

Average marks will be awarded to students able to summarize satisfactorily the program, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in its understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with the lack of a good terminology.

This 6 CFU course can be chosen as a part of the 12 CFU Integrated Course "Modern and Contemporary History of East Asia (C.I.)(LM)". If the student has the Integrated Course in his/her study plan, the final grade will result from the arithmetic average of the marks obtained in the two parts  ("History of Modern and Contemporary China (I)(LM)"and "History of Eastern Asia (I)(LM)".

Teaching tools

Digital tools; projection of visual material.

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Solieri