History of Empire in Asia

This course examines the place of empire in shaping the history of Asia. It asks what makes empires distinct, how they were constructed and held together, how they operated in theory and practice, and why they disintegrated or transitioned into other forms. It takes a broad historical approach to empire that includes native Asian polities, the rise of European colonialism in the region, and the legacies of empire in postcolonial Asia. It examines the political, economic and ideological drivers of empire and resistance, as well as the impact of empire on the lives of the ruled and the rulers.