HIS 340 Age of the Samurai
This course focuses on the history of Japan between the 10th and 19th centuries, looking specifically at the rise and fall of the military class known as the samurai. These professional warriors first emerged as bodyguards to more influential and wealthier men but soon became extremely powerful in their own right, dominating Japanese politics and culture for centuries. Includes a look at the emergence of the samurai in the Heian Period and their rise to prominence at the head of military governments from the 12th century on, as well as the collapse of the samurai class, victims of their own success and of the decision by Japanese elites to adopt new ideas from the West.