Japanese Culture I

The course provides students with the fundamentals of Japanese history and culture, from the archaeological finds dating back to the Palaeolithic, up to the first half of the 19th century. The course follows a chronological progression and covers the basics of Japanese literature, arts and philosophical and religious thinking. The ultimate goal is to equip students with an understanding of the historical, political, economic and cultural aspects that played a role in the development of this country in East Asia.

Students are encouraged to actively participate in the course, sharing their ideas on the course topics and debating them in the class. By the end of the course, students will have developed critical awareness and gained an understanding of the specificities of Japanese history and culture, being able to see them as a product of national political strategies, and of the economic and political dynamics of East Asia.