Readings in Premodern Japanese History: War & Peace, 1000-1850

Catalog description

This seminar is an introduction to the most recent historiography on premodern Japan, with a special attention to work focused on the medieval and early modern periods (twelfth through nineteenth centuries). The course will range broadly from religious history to social history, from new takes on biography and material culture to new approaches to think of Japanese's relation to the other, within the archipelago and beyond. Each week will feature a monograph published in the last decade or so, alone or (when possible) in conversation with earlier pieces on similar subjects. Students will be expected to take turns presenting on readings, to write three short book reviews during the course of the semester and a longer seminar paper at the end of the semester (to be submitted by 12/15). The short papers should be handed in no more than three weeks after the book was discussed in class.