Early Modern Japan

Historians used to described Japan during the Tokugawa period ‫(1600‫-1868‫) as a feudal era when Japan was detached from the world‫, and the following Meiji period ‫(1868‫-1912‫) as a distinct period in the evolution of the country‫, enabling it to quickly turn into a developed state‫. Current trends in historical study‫, however‫, redefine Japan of the 17‫th -19th centuries as an early modern period, and emphasize that earlier social and economic processes ‫related to urbanization, transportation, and education enabled Japan of the nineteenth century to quickly adopt industrialization and become a world player. The goal of this course is a detailed acquaintance with Japan's various historical developments during the Momoyama-Edo period with special focus on cultural and social issues.