Prospectus

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H Seminar History: Anti-Catholicism, the VOC, and the Making of Japan (1550-1850)

Course
2014-2015

Admission requirements

None. All welcome!

Description

This seminar studies Dutch VOC records and the social history of anti-Catholic activity in Japan to understand the role of religion and foreign trade in the establishment of a cohesive Japanese state and commercial sphere in the early-modern period (1550-1850). During this period of Japanese history the state for the first time took control of the territory of modern Japan, language was standardized, literacy increased and foreign trade was regulated. A monetarized economy with complex financial instruments developed which united production, trade and distribution mechanisms throughout the archipelago, thereby providing the building blocks for the later rapid modernization of Japan.
This seminar investigates the major role played by religious policy, in particular the regulation of Buddhism and banning and suppression of Catholicism, in the development of this early-modern Japanese state. In Phase One (the first half of the semester) the seminar concentrates on lectures and readings of secondary literature about state development in this period and the role of religion therein. In Phase Two (the second half of the semester) students work on small group research projects which use Dutch VOC trading records, in particular trading post diaries from Nagasaki, to gain an insight into the role of religion and politics in seventeenth century Japanese society. This seminar thereby gives students the chance to study Japanese history through primary source material, and to use commercial records to answer questions which relate primarily to political and religious history.

Course objectives

This seminar gives students the chance to study Japanese history through primary source material, and to use commercial records to answer questions which relate primarily to political and religious history.

Timetable

Zie timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Course Load

Total course load for the course (number of EC x 28 hours), for a course of 5 EC is 140 hours, for 10 EC 280.

Assessment method

Participation (including webpostings): 20%
Review Paper: 20%
Research Presentation: 20%
Research Essay: 40%

The resit is an extra attempt (second deadline) of the final paper, the result of which, if over 6, ensures a pass of the course.

Blackboard

Yes, see for more info Blackboard

Reading list

Kiri Paramore, Ideology and Christianity in Japan, New York: Routledge, 2009

And other readings to be provided in class.

Registration

Registration through uSis. Not registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the ‘Registrationprocedures for classes and examinations’ for registration deadlines and more information on how to register

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

A la carte
Contractonderwijs

ALL WELCOME!!!

Contact

Dr.K.N. Paramore.

Remarks

BAIS students can get permission to upgrade this course to level 300 through additional course work .