This is a free online course offered by the Saylor Foundation.
'This course will introduce you to the history of East Asia from the early Yellow River civilizations to the Qing Dynasty in the late eighteenth century. You will learn about the major political, economic, and social changes that took place in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam during this period. The course will be structured chronologically. Each unit will include representative primary-source documents that illustrate important overarching political, economic, and social themes, such as the development of a coherent Chinese identity, Chinese imperial aspirations in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, the expansion of Western influence and trade networks, the Mongol invasions, and the role of Confucianism and Buddhism in East Asian culture. By the end of the course, you will understand how East Asia transformed from fragmented and warring societies into consolidated imperial states that sought to separate themselves from Western religion and commerce. The course will present a variety of resources that will discuss the social, political, cultural, technological, and materials aspects of East Asian society.'