First Trimester
I. Introduction: Asia Rising
II. Ancient Asia
A. Origins
India – Harappan Civilization & the Vedic Age
China – Shang & Zhou
Japan
B. Philosophy and “Religion”
India – Vedas & the Upanishads
Jainism
Buddhism
China – Warring States Period & the 100 Schools
Confucianism, Mozi, Mencius, Xunzi, Daoism, Legalism
III. Early Unifications
A. India – Encounters w/ the Greeks, Mauryan Empire, Ashoka
B. China – Qin Unification, the First Emperor
IV. The Silk Road
Buddhism in India and its spread throughout China
Second Trimester
I. Great Empires
India – Gupta Empire
China – Han, Sui & Tang Dynasties
II. State & Society in Early Japan
Early Kingship
Ancient Religion – Shinto
Prince Shotoku & the Spread of Buddhism
Early Literature
III. Heian Japan
New Forms of Buddhism
Fujiwara Era
Aristocratic Culture – Tale of Genji, etc.
IV. Great Invasions & Warrior States
India – Muslim invasions & Indian resistance
China – Mongol invasion
Japan – Kamakura Japan and the samurai
V. New Challenges & Opportunities
India – the Mughal Empire
China – Ming & Manchu Dynasties
Japan – Edo Japan
Third Trimester
I. Asia & Western Imperialism
India – the Raj
China – the Opium Wars, Taiping Rebellion, Boxer Rebellion
Japan – Fall of the Shogunate, Meiji Transformation
II. The Rise of Modern Asia
India – Indian Nationalism, Gandhi & the end of the Raj
China – Chinese Nationalism, Chinese Communism, Civil War, China under Mao
Japan – Rise of modern Japan, War & Aftermath
III. Contemporary Asia
India
China
Japan