Saturday, April 18, 2015

China Under Communist Rule, Korea and Southeast Asia

In Monday's class, we will break into reading club groups to work on presentations for Wednesday, while I will meet with each of you to go over your midterm exam outlines. Please bring your exam to class on Monday. You will also be responsible for reading Murphey chapters 18 and 19.
In case you have been inspired to start reading Chinese characters, here's a Ted Talk to get you started.

On Friday, we will start watching To Live.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Japan and the Struggle for Asia

For Monday's class, please read Murphey, chapter 17, and for Wednesday's class, please read Murphey, chapter 18 through page 389. Be sure to be able to answer the relevant review questions at the end of both chapters.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Nationalism and Revolution in China and India

For Monday's class, please read chapter 16 to page 343, and for Wednesday's class, please read the rest of chapter 16. Be prepared to answer the review questions at the end of the chapter.

Extra credit opportunity:
There is a special exhibit, "Operation Baby Lift," at the Presidio Officer's Club in San Francisco.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Colonialism and Spheres of Influence

Readings:
For Monday's class, please read Murphey, chapter 15, to page 315 (15 pages), and for Wednesday's class, read the remainder of the chapter (15 pages). Please be prepared to answer the review questions at the end of the chapter.

Book Clubs:
I have emailed you all and expect you now to take over communications for your groups. You may want to make one person in your group the coordinator. You should have finished your books by Friday, April 10th. Individual responses of 750-1000 words will be due on turnitin.com before midnight on Wednesday, April 15th (along with your blog posts and your tax returns). Well polished and timed group presentations will be due in class the week of April 20th.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Midterm Revisions and British India

Midterm Revision Outlines are due before midnight on Monday on TurnItIn.com:
  • Class ID #: 9317615
  • Class Enrollment Password: as15
For Monday's class please read Murphey, chapter 14, to page 281 (15 pages), and for Wednesday's class read the remainder of the chapter (16 pages). The topic is British ascendancy and rule in India. Please be prepared to answer the review questions at the end of the chapter.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Tokugawa Japan

For Monday's class, please read Murphey, chapter 12, on Tokugawa Japan (14 pages), and for Wednesday's class read Murphey, chapter 13, on the increasing contact between Asia and the West (20 pages). Be prepared to answer the chapter review questions.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Exam Questions and Novels

Friday's exam will have two essay questions on the material covered in Murphey, chapters 1-11. The questions are broad and should be answered using references to your textbook (with proper citation). Good answers will incorporate information from multiple chapters for each question.
  1. Where did Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam originate; where and how did they expand; and how were they adapted by the cultures that adopted them?
  2. How did empire differ in India and China (history, philosophy, and challenges)?
Please begin to prepare your answers right away. We will use Wednesday's class to clarify and review.

The novels we will be reading in groups are