#  HIST 1964: The Social Life of Science in East Asia 

 





 Semester:   Spring 

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 Year offered:  2026 

 

 

 

Science and technology have very active social lives. They are present in nearly every aspect of modern life around the world, from the ways we feed ourselves to the ways we work, dress, and think. This class puts technology and science in their place, grounding them in specific environments and contexts. Our sites are all in East Asia - China, Korea, Taiwan, and especially Japan - with particular focus on the modern era, when East Asian factories and markets reshaped global economies and ecologies. You will learn to think differently about "nature" and "animals," for example, to better understand what it meant to be "human" in 19th century Japan. You will explore mines, factories, fields, and households to gain a sense for the historiography of techno-science in the region. You will hear Gojira (aka Godzilla) roar and watch robots die as you think about "science" as both a product and producer of culture. No prior knowledge or East Asian language skills required, previous work in history or history of science courses a plus.

Course Note: This course meets the "Beyond North America" History Concentration requirement. Formerly taught as an undergraduate seminar under the course number "HIST 12U."