Japanese Military History, 500 ACE to the Present, Advanced ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

In this course, students will survey the military history of Japan, from approximately 500 ACE to the present. While every aspect of Japanese history will not be discussed in depth, students will examine various political, social, and cultural themes in this study, some in great detail. The course will also include a discussion of the Japanese Way of War vs. the Western Way of War. Other topics covered include: “The evolution of tactics, weapons, and strategy in early Japanese History,” The Influence of the Bushido Code on Japanese Military History,” “Zen Buddhism and Japanese Military Culture” “The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan, 1853-1945,” “The First Sino-Japanese War,” The Russo-Japanese War,” “The Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1931-1945,” “The Rape of Nanking,” “Japanese War Crimes in World War II,” “The Reemergence of Japanese Military Power, 1945-Present,” Etc. Critical reading skills and the ability to analyze and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources and produce written interpretations will be emphasized. Prerequisites: NA. Corequisites: NA.