Course Description
Summary
This course explores US relations with East and Southeast Asia from the early 1800s up through the present. We examine how transnational and international forces have shaped pivotal moments across three centuries, including the Opium Wars (1840s-1860s), the Meiji Restoration (1868-1889), US seizure of the Philippines (1899-1902), the two World Wars, the Vietnam War (1954-1975), the historic thawing of U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China in the 1970s, and more recent events related to global trade, mass migration, and regional security. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how transoceanic networks linking families and communities have shaped mutual images, provoked confrontation, and inspired cooperation. Weekly discussions, guest speakers, short weekly assignments, and student projects, such as digital maps, annotated biographies, fact-based narratives, podcasts, and videos.
