JEWS IN ASIA. MODERN HISTORY, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
- Academic year
- 2024/2025 Syllabus of previous years
- Official course title
- EBREI IN ASIA. STORIA, ECONOMIA E SOCIETA'
- Course code
- LM2555 (AF:518552 AR:288138)
- Modality
- Blended (on campus and online classes)
- ECTS credits
- 6
- Degree level
- Master's Degree Programme (DM270)
- Educational sector code
- SPS/14
- Period
- 1st Semester
- Course year
- 2
- Where
- VENEZIA
- Moodle
- Go to Moodle page
Contribution of the course to the overall degree programme goals
Expected learning outcomes
- Learn and understand the main characters and historical events in the history of the Jews in South and South-East Asia in a context of Jewish history and in the regional context, with special reference to the 19th and 20th centuries
- Learn and understand concepts and instruments of historiography and critical studies about this period.
- Deepen the understand of this historical period through films and documentaries.
Applying knowledge and understanding
-learn how to analyse and interpret some relevant historical sources
- understand the difference between primary and secondary sources and learn how to use them;
- learn how to uses historiography critically in some of its main concepts (narration, normativity, canon)
Making judgements:
- learn how to make critical judgements on historical, political and social phenomena pertaining to the history of the israeli-palestinian conflict, making use of critically and historiographically solid arguments
- learn how to examine critically various types of sources (primary, secondary, photographic video, documentaries, films etc.)
- become aware of one's own inevitable bias and overcome it
Communication
- learn how to express and re-elaborate the contents of the program in an oral and/or written form, in a concise and effective way.
Lifelong learning skills :
- learn how ot integrate critically the study of different materials (notes, slides, texts, creative works, academic articles)
- be able to study autonomously materials and subjects which have not been covered in class
- improve ability to learn materials in English
- improve ability to use online learning tools
- be able to participate in an informed way to a scientific discussion on the subject among peers.
Pre-requirements
A working knowledge of one of the following languages can be of help to the student and to the group: Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, Judeo-Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Marathi, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino
Contents
The course will investigate the history of the Jews in South Asia, East Asia and South-East Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries and will touch the following areas unevenly: Indian Subcontinent, China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Israel. The course is subdivided in 4 interlocked macro-areas which will follow one another chronologically. Each will be made of 3 or 4 classes.
1. Traveling Jews: travelers, explorers and religious emissaries South and South-East Asia (19th and 20th centuries).
2. The commercial Diaspora of Baghdadi Jews and their multifaceted geographical and economic outreach. Their relations with 'Other' Jews (Bnei Israel, Cochin Jews and Paradesi) and other minority groups (Muslims, Parsis etc.)
3. Jewish refugees during the Second World War in South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia; Practices of memory and memorialisation
4. The State of Israel, South Asia, East Asia and South-East Asia: cultural, economic and strategic ties.
Referral texts
Each week students will be given 20-40 pages (mostly in English) in order to prepare for the upcoming class. The reading of this material is mandatory and is part of the requirements of this course. Films screened in class represent compulsory material for the exam. Some of this material is represented by primary sources (contemporary memoirs and correspondences, governmental documents, newspapers and magazines etc.)
Assessment methods
- 30 % presence and participation in class
- 70 % oral exam (about 30 min)
OR
- 70 % final essay of 4000 words (excluding bibliography - subject to be agreed beforehand with instructor) to be handed in on the same day of the exam.
All questions will evaluate to what extent students have acquired historical knowledge, are able to understand and contextualise historical and literary texts, how they are able to handle the means for critical analysis and their ability to learn autonomously. The essay questions will also evaluate the students' ability to apply their newly acquired knowledge to the subject matter of the course, their independence in formulating historical analysis and judgements, and their capacity to express themselves in a concise and effective manner.
Students who cannot attend the course in person are required to contact the instructor to chose a topic to be developed in a research paper (5000 words, excluding reference list) to be handed in on the day of the exam.
Teaching methods
Teaching language
Further information
Type of exam
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals
This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development