Seminars & Short Courses
Early Contacts Between East/Southeast Asia and the United States
Compared with ancient Asian states like China and Japan, the United States was the new kid on the block. But as soon as the U.S. came into existence, its officials and entrepreneurs set their sights on engaging with East Asian civilizations. This online 5-week seminar led by Dr. Shelton Woods, Professor of East/Southeast Asian History at Boise State University, will begin with America’s first interactions with China and Japan, and the consequences of those contacts. From there, we will spend the bulk of our course discovering how Filipinos fared under American colonial rule from 1898 to 1932. This oft-forgotten Philippine-US history is so fascinating that it is a shame that it is unfamiliar to our students. But it will be well-known to us after our sessions together.