THE EURO-ASIAN ENCOUNTER*

概要

This course offers students a historical survey of European and Asian encounters that have had significant consequences on the geographical, political and cultural landscapes of what we today call ‘Eurasia.’ By looking at the actions of an assortment of historical actors from around the world, students will be given insights into the exploratory, cultural, diplomatic and confrontational exchanges that brought Europe and Asia closer – or tore them apart. Topics of study include expeditions, religion, war, race, imperialism and nationalism. These topics will be dissected through the experiences of an extraordinary cast of characters and the historical outcomes and events they produced in 'Eurasian' history. The ways these characters related or evaluated their cultural, social and intellectual positions vis-à-vis a different, unfamiliar, real or imagined ‘Other’ will be the main focus of our readings.

目標

By the end of the course students will familiarize themselves with the historical, geographical, cultural and political landscapes of 'Eurasia' from the dawn of the Silk Roads all the way to the end of World War II. They will be able to analyze a wide range of historical documents, with a distinct focus on primary sources (in English translation) which offer an immersive understanding of the interplay between the West and the East. They will gain a new sense of the past and the ways in which patterns of global entanglement have made possible the material and ideological interconnections – and, also, disconnections – between Asia and Europe. Finally, students will be exposed to the cultural, economic, political and social complexities held by the individuals and institutions that facilitated these historical encounters.

授業外の学習

The course is structured like a seminar, with an emphasis on class discussions. Lectures will be kept to economical lengths in order to make room for more student interactions concerning the reading material. Students are expected to read the prescribed material and to contribute to class discussions. It is advisable that they complete all the weekly readings before the first class of every week. Students are strongly encouraged to supplement their mandatory readings with optional material (uploaded on Moodle) and from other sources. Mandatory readings are expected to take approximately 120 minutes to complete. Writing and submitting weekly discussion posts should require no more than 40 minutes. Allocate another 30 minutes for reviewing previous work to ensure effective and productive class discussions.

所要時間: At least 190 minutes per week.