HIEA 209

Korean Culture and Institutions

Ronald G. Dimberg

This lecture course is the second of a three part sequence on the history of Korea from earliest times into the 21^st century.  HIEA 209 covers the period bracketed by the Mongols in the 13^th and 14^th centuries and the ‘opening’ of Choson in the late 19^th century.  Students will study the rise and fall of the Mongols on the peninsula; the founding and consolidation of Choson (1392-1910); social, cultural, political and economic changes on the peninsula through the late 19^th century; the unique relationship between Choson and Ming/Qing China; and responses to the real and perceived challenges to the territorial and cultural integrity of Choson in the 19^th century..

Reading material for the course will include Korea Old and New; Sources of Korean Tradition; Korea: A Religious History; Classical Korean Literature; and The Five Years’ Crisis, 1866-1871: Korea in the Maelstrom of Western Imperialism.  In addition to assigned reading students will be required to complete two take-home research/writing assignments, one mid-semester and one at the end of the semester, and two in-class quizzes.

The course grade will be based on the writing assignments (25% each), and a mid-semester and a final quiz (25% each).