03583 - The History of Eastern Asia

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires a general knowledge of History and of political, economic and social evolution of East Asia, with particular regard to China and Japan, and also to Korea.

He will be able to critically approach major problems in that area, and to use a correct methodology and a correct conceptual framework in order to understand properly State-building processes in East Asia.

Course contents

A good, basic, updated knowledge of economic, institutional, political History - particularly of China and Japan - will be provided, in order to make a sound, successfull approach to today's East Asia possible.

Moving first of all from the characteristics of the Chinese civilization's development, from its ancient to contemporary times, the course will underline phases and circumstances of contact with the Japanese civilization.

The second part of the course will be dedicated to the History of Japan, from its origins to the present, and to its characteristics of development.

The role of the Korean peninsula, in both its cultural and geopolitical dimensions, will be constantly underlined.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for students attending the lectures:

For students attending the lectures the exam will be based substantially on the notes taken. During the course, specific reading tips on single aspects will be constantly provided.

Important reference books, for clarification and deepenings, are:

M. Sabattini, P. Santangelo, Storia della Cina, Roma, Laterza, any edition;

G. Samarani, La Cina del Novecento: dalla fine dell'impero a oggi (last edition's title: La Cina contemporanea) Torino, Einaudi, any edition;

F. Solieri, Cina 1948-1950. Il Partito comunista cinese e il passaggio dalla guerra civile alla costruzione dello Stato, Milano, FrancoAngeli, any edition;

R. Caroli, F. Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Roma, Laterza, any edition;

F. Gatti, Il Fascismo giapponese, Milano, FrancoAngeli, any edition;

A. Fiori, L'Asia Orientale. Dal 1945 ai giorni nostri, Bologna, il Mulino, any edition.

Bibliography for students not attending the lectures:

According to the Country of interest:

M. Sabattini, P. Santangelo, Storia della Cina, Roma, Laterza, any edition

or:

R. Caroli, F. Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Roma, Laterza, any edition.

For the post-1945 period, from:

A. Fiori, L'Asia Orientale. Dal 1945 ai giorni nostri, Bologna, il Mulino, any edition: for the students of Japanese, the chapters regarding China - and the other way round.

Students not attending the lectures are invited to get in touch with the lecturer, for recommendations on the pre-1945 reference books' use. 

Teaching methods

Lectures; students' active participation will be encouraged.

Assessment methods

 The students, to be considered attending ones, must have attended two thirds of the lectures.

The exam will be viva voce, aiming at appraising students'capacity of critical synthesis - as well as their knowledge of contents and method, with regard first of all to recommended literature and in case to further bibliographical hints provided during the lectures.

Students attending the lectures will start their exam with a topic at their own's choice, prepeared on one of books here recommended, or suggested during the course.

Students' ability in elaborating an organic, bright and methodologically sound critical synthesis, together with their use of a technical and University-level language, will be highly valued and rewarded with top marks. A more mnemonic or scholastic knowledge of History of Eastern Asia's topics will bring to lower marks.

A just sufficient knowledge of the subject and a weak speech will bring to a sufficient evaluation of the exam.

Lack of critical synthesis and deficient knowledge, unsuited speech and missed consultation of the recommended literature will make impossible to pass the exam, and necessary a further examination.

Teaching tools

Digital tools; slides, photographs and documentary material, presentation of movies.

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Solieri