HIS 26 — From Samurai to Superpower: Japan’s Modern Century, 1850–1950
Quarter: Summer
Instructor(s): Jonathan Lear
Date(s): Jul 9—Aug 13
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Tuition: $405
Refund Deadline: Jul 11
Unit(s): 1
Status: Open
Quarter: Summer
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jul 9—Aug 13
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $405
Refund Deadline: Jul 11
Instructor(s): Jonathan Lear
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
In just a century, Japan transformed from an isolated samurai society into a global powerhouse as it rapidly modernized and embraced industrialization. What drove this dramatic rise, and how did its people adapt to such rapid change? This course traces Japan’s evolution from the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868—which ended 250 years of feudal rule—to the sweeping Meiji-era (1868–1912) reforms that dismantled the samurai class, embraced Western political and economic systems, and propelled the nation onto the global stage. By the early 20th century, victories over China and Russia had cemented Japan’s status as an imperial power, setting the foundation for its expansion across Asia and its eventual defeat in World War II. Through political documents, firsthand accounts, and scholarly debates, we will examine the forces that shaped Japan’s rise and led to conflict with the West. At the end of the course, we will explore how the US-led occupation reforms attempted to restructure Japanese society, setting the stage for postwar conflicts about the country’s national identity and its role in international affairs.
Knowledge of modern East Asian history is helpful but not required.
JONATHAN LEAR
Independent Scholar
Jonathan Lear is a historian of modern Japan and Germany whose research focuses on the intellectual, cultural, and environmental history of energy. He is a lecturer in the Department of History at Santa Clara University. His current book project, tentatively titled Making and Breaking the Atomic Age in Japan and Germany, 1920–2000, looks at the history of Japan and West Germany’s commercial atomic energy programs. He received a PhD in history from UC Berkeley and an MA in the social sciences from the University of Chicago. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.