Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

From the middle of the nineteenth century, Asia underwent a transformation. Old regimes were overthrown, and Asian communities became integrated into a new world system dominated by the European imperial powers. Whilst not every case was the same, many of the central changes were felt everywhere. Industrialization, inward and outward migration, urbanization, commodification and bureaucratization were common throughout the region, and led to a revolution in the way countries were run and the way people lived their lives. This module will trace how Asia developed into the diverse set of nations it is today, and why.

The module is intended to introduce students to modern Asian history in a way that is both engaging and accessible. Starting in the middle of the nineteenth century, the course will take students through the principal historical moments that created modern Asia, from the conquest of the European imperial powers, to the political developments that led to the region emerging as a collection of independent nation states. However, holding the course together will be the underlying theme of modernity, and a discussion about what it is. Generally, whilst lectures will provide historical overview, seminars will deal more specifically with themes such as urbanization, cultural transformation and nationalism. The module will utilize a range of sources, including primary materials, to explore the keys debates.