University of Zimbabwe

History Department

History of Asia to 1920: HS2190/HHS0180

Lecturer: Dr. I. Marowa

Email: ivanmarowa@yahoo.co.uk
Office No. 119
Coursework: 1 assignment and at least 2 in-class tests per semester
Student Consultation Times: Monday & Wednesday 1400hrs-1530hrs

Course Outline – 1st Semester 2015-2016

Course Description
The course examines the political and social history of the Asian continent from the 13th
century to the early 20th century. It focuses on the history of three major Asian countries:
China, India and Japan which, among other Asian countries, have played prominent roles in
shaping the history of the region during this period.

Course Aims
The course aims to
 Introduce students to some of the major historical events and debates relating to the
political and social history of Asia from the 13th century to the early 20th century.
 To help students to develop a critical understanding and appreciation of the major
political and social developments that shaped the history of Asia from the 13 th century
to the early 20th century

Course Objectives
 To clearly identify and explain the major rival historiographical interpretations
relating to the topics covered in the course
 Critically assess the merits of particular historical viewpoints relating to the topics
covered in the course
Course Requirements and Student Assessment
The course is taught through lectures, which will be delivered three times a week and
tutorials which will be held every week. Students are expected to attend all lectures and
tutorials. Presence and participation in tutorials are crucial aspects because they contribute to
course assessment.

Student assessment for this course comprises coursework in the form of one written
assignment and in-class tests which will account for 25% of the final course assessment. The
examination to be written at the end of the semester will account for 75% of the final course
assessment. In order to pass the course, students are required to secure pass marks in both
components of the course, that is, coursework and the examination. Failure to attend lectures
might make students to be not examinable and the lecturer can bar such students from sitting
for the examination.

Course Outline
The course has two sections and students will be required to answer THREE questions in the
examination. Students are discouraged from cramming or spotting examination questions
because that might result unexpected failure.

SECTION A
 CHINA UNDER MONGOL RULE (1279-1368)
 CHINA UNDER THE MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
 THE FIRST ANGLO-CHINESE WAR 81839-1842)
 THE TAIPING REBELLION (1850-1864)

SECTION B
 THE INDIAN MUTINY OF 1857
 THE MEIJI RESTORATION AND THE MODERNISATION OF JAPAN
 THE END OF MANCHU RULE IN CHINA
 THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHINESE REPUBLIC (1912-1920)

Recommended Readings
Adshead SAM China in World History (1988)
Allen BM Gordon in China (1933)
Beasley WG (ed.) Modern Japan: Aspects of History, Literature and Society (1975)
Beasley WG The Modern History of Japan (1963)
Beeching J The Chinese Opium Wars (1975)
Bence-Jones M The Viceroys of India (1982)
Bianco L Origins of the Chinese Revolution 1915-1949 (1967)
Brown JM Modern India: The Origins of Asian Democracy (1985)
Burks AW Japan: A Post-Industrial Power (1981)
Cameron ME The Reform Movement in China 1898-1912 (1963)
Chamberlain ME Britain and India: The Interaction of Two Peoples (1974)
Chang H Commissioner Lin and the Opium War (1964)
Chaudhuri SB Civil Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies 1857-1859 (1957)
Chesneax J China From the 1911 Revolution to Liberation (1977)
Cotterell A China: A History (1990)
Fitzgerald CP China: A Short Cultural History (1961)
Franke W China and the West (1967)
Gluck C Japan’s Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period (1985)
Griffiths P The British Impact on India (1965)
Harris J The Indian Mutiny (1973)
Hibbert C The Great Mutiny: India 1857 (1978)
Huber TM The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan (1981)
Hughes ER The Invasion of China by the Western World (1937)
Lehmann JP The Roots of Modern Japan (1982)
Mabbett IW A Short History of India (1968)
Marius MB Japan and its World: Two Centuries of Change (1980)
Maruyama M Studies in the Intellectual History of Tokugawa Japan (1974)
Marx K & Engels F The First Indian War of Independence 1857-1859 (1959)
McAleavy H The Modern History of China (1967)
Michio N & Urrutia M (eds) Meiji Ishin: Restoration and Revolution (1985)
Nakane C & Shinzaburo O. (eds) Tokugawa Japan: The Social and Economic Antecedents of
Modern Japan (1990)
Purcell V South East Asia Since 1800 (1965)
Sansom GB A History of Japan 1615-1867 (1964)
Wakeman F The Fall of Imperial China (1975)
Waley A The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes (1958)
Yoshida S Japan’s Decisive Century: 1867-1967 (1967)