East Asia and Empire(s): Korean History as a Decentering Praxis

This seminar examines how imperial formations across East Asia—Mongol, Ming, Qing, Japanese, and American—shaped Korea from the 13th century to the present. We trace Korea's encounters with empire(s) through themes including proto-nationalism, tributary relations, assimilatory rule, Manchu and Japanese invasions, free trade imperialism, settler colonialism, military sex slavery, the Asia-Pacific War, and U.S. Cold War power. Taking a non-Western-centric approach, the course situates Korea within broader East Asian and global histories. Open to undergraduates and graduates; graduate students complete additional advanced readings.