SECTION 001 (MAIN CAMPUS): Asian Biographies: Traditional and Otherwise. In the Confucian and Islamic traditions the writing of the lives of virtuous men has been central to the establishment of state legitimacy and the transmission of cultural values. In the past women were only rarely been included in the pantheon of heroes. This course considers the traditions and uses of biography and autobiography in Asia, a crucial issue in historiography, by examining traditional approaches to biography and autobiography, and by tracing the evolution of these traditions, as adapted to the needs of modern civil society and state.SECTION 101 (AMBLER): Comparative Revolutions in South and Southeast Asia: Nationalism, Communism, and Tradition. This course examines 20th century transformations of Afghanistan, Indonesia and Vietnam, with an emphasis on the sources of ideas for revolutionary change. We will contrast the role of Western concepts, including those spread to colonial countries via the Communist International in Moscow, with the importance of indigenous beliefs and Asian religions in the revolutions in these three countries. We’ll also consider the role of colonial and imperial powers in encouraging obscurantist (often referred to as traditional) doctrines.