Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract/Objectives

"Southeast Asia," a geopolitical region constructed in the 20th century, has been the cross road of great civilizations in human history. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, and Christianity were introduced to this region and blended with local cultures, creating incredible cultural diversity. From the angles of history, archaeology, and art history, this course introduces the cultural development of Southeast Asia from the Paleolithic period to the early 20th century, before the contemporary nations were established. Such long-term, deep-history perspectives are critical for understanding the characteristics of the region and beyond. In addition, the class discussion include contemporary Southeast Asian communities and their relationships with Taiwan.

Results/Contributions

The course objectives include establishing fundamental knowledge of Southeast Asia, recognizing and appreciating the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia, and understanding historical interactions between Southeast Asia and surrounding regions. In addition to lectures, this course includes expert talks, off-campus learning, and film screenings. Since half of the students in this course are Taiwanese and half are international students, with half of the international students coming from Southeast Asian countries, students have the opportunity to gain deep insights into the course topics. Furthermore, through visits to Vietnamese and Filipino communities in Taiwan, students can better integrate the historical and cultural issues discussed in class with contemporary international social development, making for a more lasting impression.

Keywords

Southeast Asian History and CultureSoutheast Asian Communities in TaiwanCross-Cultural learning

References

1.

Contact Information

謝艾倫
ehsieh@mx.nthu.edu.tw