Seminars & Short Courses
Asian Topics Discussion Series: Meiji Japan meets the West: 1868-1912
In 1868 the Tokugawa shōgun ("great general"), who ruled Japan in the feudal period, lost his power and the emperor was restored to the supreme position. The emperor took the name Meiji ("enlightened rule") as his reign name; this event was known as the Meiji Restoration. This political revolution "restored" the emperor to power, but he did not rule directly. He was expected to accept the advice of the group that had overthrown the shōgun, and it was from this group that a small number of ambitious, able, and patriotic young men from the lower ranks of the samurai emerged to take control and establish the new political system.
Join Dr. Carol Gluck for this session as part of the "Asian Topics Discussion Series" and explore key points during this period with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss various approaches to teaching the topic.