Numbering Code	U-LAS01 10002 LE38	Year/Term	2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	Lecture
Target Year	All students	Target Student	For all majors
Language	English	Day/Period	Wed.1
Instructor name	Niels van Steenpaal (Graduate School of Education Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	This course will offer an introduction to premodern Japanese history (~1600) from a global perspective. That is, we will approach the Japanese archipelago not as an isolated territory that seamlessly transformed into the nation state as we now know it, but as a geographical hub that has been shaped by various “foreign” encounters through the centuries. We will look at how trade, war, diplomacy and ideas fostered international connections that have played crucial roles in deciding the trajectory of Japan’s development.
Course Goals	Upon the successful completion of this course, students will: (1) have a general understanding of the major periods and events of Japanese premodern history. (2) gain a sensibility for the way in which the history of nation states is intimately bound up with, and cannot be told separately from global events.
Schedule and Contents	The weekly topic schedule is as follows: 1. Introduction 2. Early Migration 3. Jomon 4. Yayoi and Kofun 5. Early State Formation I 6. Early State Formation II 7. Imperial Period 8. Mongol Invasion I 9. Mongol Invasion II 10. East Asia War I 11. East Asia War II 12. Christianity I 13. Christianity II 14. Q&A 15. (final exam) 16. Feedback
Evaluation Methods and Policy	Grading will be based on a final exam only. 100% Final Exam
Course Requirements	As a survey introduction class, this course will require no reading preparations, but basic competence in English is required to fruitfully engage in class and the exam. Furthermore, although not a strict requirement, it is recommended that the student will either precede or follow up this course with the fall semester Japanese History II.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	Reviewing class notes and possibly clarifying unclear items through independent study.
Textbooks	Textbooks/References	Although this class does not feature any required readings, it does recommend you familiarize yourself with the general outline of the period under discussion each class.