History OF Modern East Asia II (c.1868-1945) Japan & Korea

JAPANCrisis in the Tokugawa Shogunate is an important phase in the Japanese history. The downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate was followed by Meiji Restoration. Meiji Political reorganization, Military reforms, Social cultural, Educational and financial reforms are also highlighted, in the Japanese history. Meiji constitution is also an important part of Japanese history. Meiji revolution transform the domestic space in Japan. World War–I brought unprecedented human disaster to Europe, in Asia it brought some unexpected opportunities. From 1890s through the 1920s hybrid politics of imperial democracy emerged in Japan. A similar mixture of consensus on basic goals and a strategic contentions over how to achieve them marked Japanese foreign policy of the 1910s and 1920s. In 1937 Japanese troops emerged in a minor skirmish with the Chinese soldiers. The Pacific war began with swift dramatic victories for Japanese army and navy. The combination of two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) led the Japanese emperor to end the War. Japanese surrender marked a great drive in modern history.
KOREAKorea is an ancient land with 2000 years of recorded history and a rich and distinctive cultural tradition. Korea today is divided into two rival states but this is a fairly recent development. The peninsular heartland of what is today’s Korea was united in 676 and except for one brief period remained so until the end of World War–II. A nation that arguably the most ethnically homogeneous in the world with thirteen century of political unity with national and provincial boundaries older than almost any other state was cut into halves by two super power. The history traces the origin and development of the Korean people and their culture from the varied tribal people who settled in the Pennisula to the two Koreas today. The remarkable continuity of Korea’s social and political history. The old order, the institutional decay of Joseon Korea, Koreas interaction with the western world, social, political and economic reforms of Korea, Japanese colonization and post war changes makes Korean history worthy of study.

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1Module 1 : Tokugawa ShoganateModule 2 : Meiji Restoration
Week 2Module 3 : Political Reorganization & Military Reforms in JapanModule 4 : Social, cultural and educational reforms (bunmeikaika) & Financial reforms and educational development in the ‘Meiji’ era
Week 3Module 5 : Meiji ConstitutionModule 6 : Emergence of Japanese Imperial Power
Week 4Module 7 : Popular and Democratic movementsModule 8 : Nature of political parties in Japan
Week 5Module 9 :Japan and First World War, Washington Conference, Manchurian CrisisModule 10 : Democracy, Militarism and second Sino Japanese War
Week 6Module 11 : Japan and Second World War part 1Module 12 : Japan and Second World War part 2
Week 7Module 13 : Post-War Changes in JapanModule 14 : The old order and Institutional Decay: Choson KoreaModule 15 : Korea’s interactions with the western powers and unequal treaties with Japan
Week 8Module 16 : Social, political and economic reforms in KoreaModule 17 : Japan’s colonization: March First Movement and the growth of Korean nationalism; in situational transformation 1910-1945Module 18 : Post-War Changes in Korea