A section of the Great Wall of China
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.
FEATURED TOPIC
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.
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