Academic Catalogs

HIST G120: Asian Civilizations

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Eff Term Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 11/18/2025
Top Code 220500 - History
Units 3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3)
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 108
Total Student Learning Hours 162
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences (GD)
Diversity Requirement (GCD) Yes
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C2 Humanities (C2)
  • CSU D3 Ethnic Studies (D3)
  • CSU D6 History (D6)
  • CSU D7 Interdisciplinary Study (D7)

Course Description

This course introduces students to the rich variety of Asian civilizations with special emphasis on geographic and demographic patterns and the dynamics of ancient, modern, and transitional Asian societies. Major political, economic, sociocultural developments, and religious traditions of India, China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia will be examined through a historical perspective. In addition, this course examines the implications of Western colonization, independence struggles, and twentieth century wars in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Analyze primary and secondary sources in the History of Asia.
  2. Evaluate the relevance of Asian History from antiquity to the modern day.
  3. Conduct written research using historical evidence in Asian History.

Course Objectives

  • Describe geographical and cultural differences in Asia's economic development, population growth, and density.
  • Analyze the dynamics of change and continuity in Asia from antiquity until the modern day.
  • Explain the core structure and different functions of Confucianism as it has existed in most Asian societies.
  • Evaluate elements of the traditional past that are presently influencing economic development for modern Asia.
  • Analyze the History of Asia through the lens of gender, race, class, and ethnicity.
  • Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in the History of Asia.
  • Ask essential questions, pose new interpretations, and compose research using historical evidence.
  • Recognize the importance of conflicting interpretations to contextualize the past on its own terms.
  • Analyze the dynamics of change over time to explain historical causality and to preserve contingency in the past.
  • Evaluate the consequences of historical decisions to reflect on the relevance of debatable issues in the modern day.

Lecture Content

  1. Foundations of Civilizations (Prehistory–900 CE)
    1. The populating of Asia and the Agricultural Revolution
    2. First civilizations
      1. Sumerians and Mesopotamians
      2. Shang China
      3. Indus Valley
  2. Early Empires (500 BCE–500 CE)
    1. Religions of Asia (Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam)
    2. Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid dynasties
    3. Shang, Zhou, Han, and Sui China
    4. Early Korea through the Silla Dynasty
    5. Mauryan and Gupta India
    6. Southeast Asia (Funan)
  3. Classical and Medieval Asia (500–1500 CE)
    1. Silk Roads and nomadic Central Asia
    2. Tang and Song China
    3. Koryo Korea
    4. Heian and Kamakura Japan
    5. Southeast Asia (Angkor/Khmer, Pagan, Dai Viet)
    6. Delhi Sultanate
    7. Umayyad and Abbasid Persia
    8. The Mongol Empire
    9. Ming China
  4. Early Modern Asia and the arrival of the West
    1. Qing China (the Manchu Empire)
    2. Tokugawa Japan
    3. Siam, Burma, and Khmer
    4. Mughal India (European commerce and conquest)
    5. Safavid Persia
    6. The Ottomans
  5. Modern Asia (1800–Present)
    1. The age of Western imperialism
      1. China in decline (Anglo-Chinese wars and the Boxer Rebellion)
      2. Japan in turmoil (the Meiji Restoration)
      3. Turbulence in Korea
      4. British India and Burma (the Indian Nationalist Movement)
      5. French Indochina
    2. Asia in the Twentieth Century
      1. WWI, WWII, and the Cold War (rise of modern Japan and China in flux)
      2. China under Mao
      3. Decolonization (Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam), Indian Nation-State (partition and independence), decline of the USSR
    3. Contemporary world
      1. China since Mao
      2. Korea
      3. Japan
      4. Middle East (modernization and conflict)

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

-

Reading Assignments

Students will complete weekly readings of the assigned course textbooks paired with primary source readings and secondary source historical articles. The intent will be to familiarize students with analyzing and evaluating historical documents and thinking critically of the past.

Writing Assignments

The students will be assigned discussion posts on course concepts or controversial issues in the past, where they can engage with the content, debate, and draw reasoned conclusions with their peers. The students may be assigned short written assignments, analytical essays, and research assignments on course content, historical sources, or historical publications. The intent is to teach students how to critically read, think, and write about the human past through the careful evaluation of historical documents.

Out-of-class Assignments

The students will utilize the course content to indicate historical context, analyze historical evidence, and complete historical research. For example, students may complete primary source analysis assignments, analytical essays, book reviews, argumentative essays, or oral history interviews. The intent will be to teach the students how to evaluate the past, apply cause-and-effect reasoning, and assess the relevance of historical events.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Midterm Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Short Quizzes
  • Written Assignments
  • Essay Examinations
  • Objective Examinations

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Discussion posts and research essays will challenge students to weigh consequences of historical decisions or to take a stance on a controversial issue in the past. Analytical assignments will encourage students to read primary historical evidence and make connections with course content. Quizzes and other objective assignments will promote students' comprehension of the historical context.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will analyze historical primary and secondary sources, assess course content, and develop critical reading, thinking, and writing skills.

Resources Subscreen

  • Textbook: Rhoads Murphey and Kristin Stapleton. A History of Asia (classic), 8th ed.. Routledge (2019).
  • Textbook: Patricia Ebrey and Anne Walthall.. Pre-Modern East Asia: A Cultural, Social and Political History: To 1800 (classic), 3rd ed.. Wadsworth Publishing (2013).
  • Textbook: Patricia Ebrey and Anne Walthall. Modern East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History: From 1600 (classic), 3rd ed.. Wadsworth Publishing (2013).
  • Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

  • History: Master’s degree in history OR bachelor’s degree in history AND master’s degree in political science, humanities, geography, area studies, women’s studies, social science, or ethnic studies OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.