Cultural History of Japan Survey of the distinctive cultural ethos of each major period in Japanese premodern history considering artistic, literary, religious, and institutional developments. Special attention to comparative study both among the Japanese eras and between the Japanese and the West. History of Modern Japan Emphasis on Japan's political, social, and economic development since the mid-nineteenth century. Particular attention to basic Japanese values which enhance the drive for modernization in this society. History of the Modern Middle East Examination of the major political and social developments in the Middle East in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Attention is divided among the Arab, Persian, and Turkish peoples and states.
History of Japanese Religion and Its Practice Study of the historical interaction of indigenous Shinto ideas with various types of Buddhism, as well as their confrontation with Christianity. Emphasis on the dynamics of the religious concepts and practices that have served the spiritual needs of the people of Japan from mythology to the present. Course concludes with attention to conflicts between religious theory and actual practice as expressed in contemporary folk religion. French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815 Investigation of ideas, forces, and actors in this epic revolutionary period and analysis of results and contributions of Napoleonic dominance in Europe. Senior Seminar in History Reading and discussion course for majors which covers a specific topic of history.