This course provides an introduction to the study of East Asia, the macroregion that is commonly understood to consist of Greater China, Korea, and Japan.  Our focus for this semester will be the emergence of a coherent cultural zone from the beginnings to the fourteenth century, with particular attention to the question of empire formation and the ideologies underlying concepts of empire in East Asia.  No prior knowledge of the languages and histories of East Asia is assumed, though a willingness to learn romanization of East Asian names, places, and terms is required.