2025-2026 Undergraduate Bulletin

HIS 274 Modern Asia: Empires, Encounters, and Globalization

3 hours 

This course explores the transformation of Asia (East, South, Southeast, Central, and West Asia) from the 17th century to the present, highlighting its significant role in modernization and globalization. We examine the challenges of Western imperialism, the impacts of international warfare, and the rise of modern nation-states, emphasizing how Asia’s diverse historical encounters reshaped global power dynamics. Topics include evolving cultural traditions like Confucianism, Islam, and Hinduism, the histories of Asian diasporas and immigration, and Asia’s critical contributions to global affairs. Through primary sources, memoirs, and multimedia, students will analyze how Asia’s experiences challenge Eurocentric narratives and illuminate its enduring influence on today’s globalized world.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENG 201

Notes

Formerly titled: HIS 274 History of China from 1650.