The influence of China and Japan on global history has been immense, and goes back further than many Americans may realize. To understand these nations in the context of the modern world, Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University, provides a comprehensive perspective on thousands of years of their pasts.
Please note that individual sessions are also available for sale.
Sept. 4 Ancient Chinese Philosophers
Jacobs introduces some of the most important and enduring thinkers of ancient China as he examines their views on the meaning of life, the role of the state, the importance of civilization, relationships among people, and how to gain and maintain power. He also covers one of the most violent and innovative periods in Chinese history—the Warring States era (475–221 B.C.)—and how its conclusion ushered in the age of empires in East Asia.
Oct. 2 Ancient China
There are more than 3,000 years of recorded history in China. Jacobs contextualizes the nation’s political tradition as he considers major themes and events from the great states and empires of the East Asian mainland. He offers a look at the foundational institutions of the Shang and Zhou dynasties; classical philosophers; the establishment of the first empire; the great southern migration and the conquest of the agricultural heartland by northern nomads; the civil service examination system; the expeditionary voyages of Zheng He; and the impact of the West on China.
Nov. 6 Modern Chinese History
Jacobs traces the influential issues, episodes, and people that shaped modern China, from the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) to successive 20th-century republics. He reviews the major political, economic, and cultural forces of the late imperial era, and how they transformed over the course of the 19th and 20th century. He focuses on China’s encounter with the West, the legacy of national humiliation, and cultural reform—and reveals why every Chinese president since Deng Xiaoping has a degree in engineering.
Dec. 4 The Japanese Empire
Though it lasted only for half a century, the Japanese empire was one of the most surprising and innovative states in the annals of modern history. Jacobs follows its formation from the acquisition of Taiwan in 1895 to its abrupt dismantlement in the wake of World War II. He examines the geographical and chronological contours of the empire; reviews significant themes in its colonial rule in Asia; and compares its development with those of other contemporary empires. He also discusses the legacies of the empire that still shape and influence Japan’s place in the world today.
4 sessions
Photo caption: A section of the Great Wall of China
