Essay 1: Was late Tokugawa Japan actually in trouble?
Given the discussions in Aizawa’s New Thesis and Musui’s autobiography, is the story of Tokugawa Japan in the first half of the 19th century best understood as being primarily characterized by social, political, and economic decline?
Make your case by citing specific examples from the assigned texts. While you may cite secondary sources, the essay should mainly rely on the close reading of Aizawa and Musui’s writings to backup its arguments.
Essay Format
Your essay should be formatted in the following manner:
- Give the essay a title
- 1,250 words (roughly 5 pages)
- 12-pt. Times or Times New Roman font
- Double-spaced
- 1-inch margin
- Citations given in footnotes in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style Citation Quick Guide
- Microsoft Word or PDF file
The essay is due during Session 7.