As a sophomore-level course, History 246 presents some advanced concepts, especially in economic matters and the history of ideas. The course textbook, Modern East Asia: From 1600, is new and features background in cultural, social and political matters. However, be assured that you do not need an extensive background in Asian studies to master the course.

For those curious about the further study of Asia, two authoritative sources, the Cambridge History of China and the Cambridge History of Japan are recommended as the best compilations in the English language. Widely used college history textbooks include China: A New History (John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman, 1998) and Japan: A Modern History (James L. McClain, 2002). The diverse histories of the smaller nations are condensed in Southeast Asia (Mary S. Heidhues, 2000). These books contain references to numerous periodicals in the field.

  COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course will give you an overview of the following themes: what Asia was/what Asia is, the geopolitics/military history of the region, the U.S. attitude towards Asia and involvement in Asia, global business, the Confucian Question, and the concept of "The Pacific Century."

  REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Ebrey, P., Walthall, A., Palais, J., Modern East Asia: From 1600, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006.

Required Paperbacks

Bao Ninh, The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam, Riverhead Books, 1993.

Hessler, P., Rivertown: Two Years on the Yangtze, Perennial Books, 2001.

Reading the Textbook

Before doing the assignment, read the chapter carefully. Textbooks can be quite dull, especially if you try to read them in great chunks. This is in part because the authors are taking vast and vivid historical arguments and trying to meld them into a mild, consensus-based book. By de-emphasizing the scholarly equivalent of fistfights, textbooks are able to address a broader readership and avoid confusing the reader with the natural fluidity of historical argument. It also means that much of the excitement and controversy of history is lost.

Modern textbook authors try to offset the tendency for readers to doze off by breaking up the text into separate sections, and including a fair bit of specialized articles and pictures. Make sure you read these extra bits, and examine the pictures, which can offer an extra level of understanding. It's usually easiest to stay focused on the text by reading it critically; that is, by asking questions (i.e., turning the section headings into questions to be answered) or by arguing with it-find the assumptions the textbook is making, and study how the authors defend their argument.

  LESSON ASSIGNMENTS

Most of the ten regular lessons will ask you to write one or two required essays based on the textbook reading. Specific instructions for the length of each essay are given in each lesson. The assignments should be completed with as much detail as necessary.