1. Introduction: Jōmon to 1600 (27 August 2021) Overview This first class will be an overview of premodern Japanese history, from the Neolithic (Jōmon) period to the end of the period of samurai rule in the mid-nineteenth century. It will prepare us to talk about modern history in future classes. Unlike those classes, this week we will not focus on details, only on the broad contours of history. We will cover the following periods of Japanese history: Jōmon c.15,000BP-3000BP* Yayoi 3000BP-250 Kofun 250–538 Asuka 538–710 Nara 710–794 Heian 794–1185 Kamakura 1185–1333 Muromachi 1333–1568 Azuchi–Momoyama 1568–1600 *BP: Before the present.