HSY1060

Asian civilisations: an historical introduction 2: the transformation of Asia, circa. 1500 to the present day

Ian Copland and Jane Drakard

6 points - Two lectures and one tutorial per week - Second semester - Clayton - Prohibited combination: ASN1020

Objectives The subject is designed to introduce students to debates about the processes of imperialism, colonialism and modernisation in the shaping of Asian societies and politics from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Students successfully completing this subject should have developed a broad knowledge of Asian societies and cultures in the modern era; sense of the sweep of modern world history; an understanding of the role of individuals, ideas, customs, kinship, gender and economic forces in the shaping of events; and an ability to differentiate, in assessing the above between the experiences of India, China, Japan and Indonesia.

Synopsis By 1600 European maritime imperialism was impacting on the coasts of Asia; by 1800 much of South and Southeast Asia was under European rule. Today, China and India are once again autonomous countries, significant players on the world stage, while Japan bids fair to overtake the USA as the world's strongest economic power. This subject seeks to shed light on this remarkable reversal of Asia's fortunes. How did India, China and Japan manage to throw off the shackles of imperialism, and how did they adjust to the economic and cultural challenge posed by a confident, industrialised and democratising Europe? And what of the future? Was the postwar East Asian 'economic miracle' the beginning of an era of Asian world dominance? How far has this sea-change been arrested or undercut by the 'meltdown' of 1997? Lectures and tutorials will focus on the big picture, providing thereby a broad, connected survey of Asia's 'renaissance'; but students will have the opportunity, in essay work, to specialise on areas and themes of their choice. Discussion in tutorials will focus on interpreting these processes of change, through a close analysis of the 'evidence': texts, maps, pictures and stories generated by contemporary participants and observers.

Assessment Written (total 2500 words): 60% - Examination (2 hours): 30% - Class participation/attendance: 10%

Prescribed texts

Murphey R A History of Asia Harper Collins 1996

Recommended texts

Borthwick M The emergence of modern Pacific Asia Westview Press, Allen and Unwin, 1992
Hibbert C The dragon wakes: China and the West 1792-1911 Penguin, 1984
Hunter J E The emergence of modern Japan: An introductory history since 1853 Longman, 1989
Jeffrey R (ed.) Asia and the winning of independence Macmillan, 1981
Stern R W Changing India: Bourgeois revolution on the subcontinent CUP, 1993
Wilkinson E Japan versus the West: Images and reality Penguin, 1991

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