Asian Studies

Link to Class Activities

Description of Studies

The purpose of this class is to help you better understand the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and India. The class will encompass a brief study of pre-colonial Asia; however, a concentration of the studies will be on colonial and post-colonial Asia. Each student will also be able to explain and/or compare the historical trends of economic growth, cultural shifts, and political realignments.

Materials

Textbooks: Students will be using a combination of articles and texts provided during class.

Political Map: Blank Map  Labeled Map

Daily Notebook: 3-pong Folder with notebook paper

Pencil or Pen (Black only; other colors will not be graded)

Units

Asia before Colonialism

• China: Ancient Dynasties – Yuan Dynasties
• Japan: Ancient Dynasties - Azuchi-Momoyama Period
• Korea: Ancient Dynasties - Goryeo Period
• India: Vedic Period – Mughal Dynasty

1500-1920

• China: Study of the last empires of china before the weakened attempts of colonial independence begin and Sino-Japanese War.
• Japan: Study of Isolation and European modernization of Japan during the Tokogawa Shogunate and Meiji restoration periods.
• Korea: Known as the Middle Period this is a time of independent and Cultural identity before a period of Japanese occupation
• India: One of the two catalyst used to begin the exploration movement a hodgepodge of kingdoms is forced into a created national identity

1920-1950

This period looks at the effects of both World Wars and the creation of the Communist system in China and Korea. This will be limited to a study of the culture and not necessary the military history of the conflicts.

Modern Asia

• China: Creation of Mao’s China and the movement towards a Capitalist Economy under Communist Party control
• Japan: US occupation, corporate samurai culture and the modern Japanese industrial engine.
• Korea: The Hermit Kingdom of North Korea and the Techno-culture of South Korea are not one in the same.
• India: Independence does not mean cultural equality. Secession process of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The issue of place in the world and what it means to be the fastest growing population.