HIS 3785: Trade, War, and The Making of East Asian Modernities (2026-2027)

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What roles did Trade and War play in the rise of East Asian powers? To what extent did they shape their identities and political ambitions? This course traces the transformation of East Asia from the Opium Wars to the emergence of modern economic powers within the global capitalist system. Through this lens, students will explore East Asia’s struggles with modernization, revolution, socialism, race, equality, and Christianity, and examine how these forces shaped the region’s search for modern identity over the past 150 years. Typically offered: Winter.