Discovering History
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Unit 2: Origins of Empire

Picture
Detail from "Illustration of the Ceremony Promulgating the Constitution,” Artist unknown, 1890.
Historians are often quite concerned with origins. One reason for this fascination lies with the chronological character of our field. Very simply: we’re lost without a place to start our story. Of course, this class is no different, and so this unit is about searching for a beginning. We start off with a brief glimpse of the Tokugawa era (1603–1868) to provide context to the tumultuous period that follows. While Western contact was only one factor driving the Meiji Restoration in 1868, it will draw most of our attention due its implications for Japan’s relations not only with the West, but also its neighbors. The next few classes will then be dedicated to the revolutionary changes in Japanese politics, society, and culture, giving special attention to Meiji Japan’s evolving system of education.

Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, items listed under each day should be completed before the class it is assigned. For example, on day 2 (a Friday), the assignment listed should be completed before class on Friday.

Day 1 (Fri 9/16): Late Tokugawa era
  • View all of the "Tokugawa Japan" videos on the Asia Topics website except "the Tōkaidō Road," "Confucian Social Values," and "Ukiyo: The Pleasure Quarters" (these three are optional). Total viewing time ±20 minutes.
  • Completely optional (but kind of fun): View "History of Japan" by Bill Wurtz. See embedded YouTube link to the right.

Day 2 (Mon 9/19): Challenge from the West
  • ​(1) Read Huffman, 5-10
  • (2) Read Aizawa Seishisai on the “Danger from the West” (1825)
  • (3) Read Yokoi Shōnan, “Enriching the Country” (1860)

Day 3 (Wed 9/21): Meiji Restoration
  • Read Huffman, 11-top of 16
  • View video: “The Meiji Revolution” (parts 1, 2, and most of 3, ±40 minutes). See embedded YouTube links, below.

Day 4 (Thu 9/22): ​Education in Meiji Japan
  • Read Saburō Ienaga, “Thought Control and Indoctrination” in The Pacific War (Pantheon, 1978), 13-33.
  • Consider the following questions for discussion:
    • How does Ienaga characterize the Meiji state’s approach to ideas and information? Identify a law or regulation and explain why it is representative of this approach.
    • What does the author believe is the result of these policies? Based on the evidence presented, do you find his argument convincing? Why or why not?
    • How did Meiji education policies change over time? What role did the 1890 Imperial Rescript on Education play in these shifts?
    • Explain how the military came to influence school curriculum. What values did this influence aim to instill? How might these values be similar or different to the education you received?
    • What did Japanese schoolchildren learn about China? What, according to Ienaga, was the impact of this education?

Day 5 (Fri 9/23): Unit 2 Assessment
  • To prepare for our unit assessment, please review your notes on the week's homework assignments.
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  • Courses
    • Archived Courses >
      • Chinese History >
        • Ancient/Early Modern: Living China's History >
          • Living China's History (fall 2017) >
            • Course Information
            • Course Project
            • In-Class
            • Assignments
          • Living China's History (fall 2018) >
            • In-Class >
              • The Death of Woman Wang
            • Assignments
        • Modern: China's Fall and Rise >
          • China's Rise and Fall (spring 2019) >
            • Course Info
            • In Class
            • Assignments + Units
          • China's Fall and Rise (spring 2018) >
            • Course Information
            • In-Class
            • Assignments
        • Contemporary: Thinking about a Changing China >
          • Thinking about a Changing China (spring 2017) >
            • Course Information
            • In Class
            • Assignments
      • Global Thinking (grade 9 seminar) >
        • HS150 Course Information
        • HS150 In-Class
        • HS150 Assignments
      • Japanese History >
        • Japan's Empire and its Legacies (fall 2016) >
          • Course Information
          • Daily Review
          • Schedule >
            • JE Unit 1
            • JE Unit 2
            • JE Unit 3
            • JE Unit 4
            • JE Unit 5
            • JE Unit 6
          • Research >
            • Issues of History
            • Research Schedule >
              • Checkpoint #2: Annotated Bibliography
              • Checkpoint #3: Outline
              • Checkpoint #4: Supplemental Pages
      • U.S. History >
        • Humanities History (2017-18) >
          • Course Information
          • In-Class
          • Assignments
        • Humanities History (2016-17) >
          • Course Information
          • In Class
          • Assignments >
            • U1: The American Revolution & the Constitution
            • U2: Defining the Nation
            • U3: 19th Century Social & Cultural Transformations >
              • Cemetery Project
            • U4: A House Divided
            • U5: Industry & Empire
            • U6: Progressive Promise & Disillusion
            • U7: Global Conflicts
            • U8: Civil Rights & Human Rights
      • More Course Descriptions
  • Skills
    • Reading >
      • Active Reading
      • Advanced Reading Strategies (Upper Mids and Seniors)
      • Outlining for Reading
      • Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
      • Analyzing Primary Sources with SOAPSTone
      • Analyzing Visual Primary Sources
      • Selecting & Evaluating Secondary Sources
    • Thinking >
      • What is History?
      • Historical Thinking Chart (PDF)
      • Breaking Down History with the SPICE Factors
    • Discussing >
      • Engaging in Class Discussion
      • Evaluating Discussion
    • Researching >
      • Identifying Research Topics & Questions
      • Note Cards
    • Writing >
      • Zero Draft
      • Thesis Statements
      • Forming Counterarguments
      • Formatting Chicago-Style Papers
      • Ford Library Guide to Chicago-style Citations (PDF)
    • Tech Tips
  • Reference
    • Chinese History Tools
    • Further Reading in Asian Studies >
      • Books
      • News
      • Podcasts
    • Current Events around the World
  • About
    • About
    • Writing