The course is a survey of the major themes in the history of Asia beginning with an analysis of notions of culture and civilization. It covers the three main cultural and religious centres and their traditions: Southwest Asia, with the focus at first in Mesopotamia and with the main thread of continuity being the great tradition of Iran/Persian, which includes Islam since the seventh century; secondly the Hindu-Buddhist culture of India, marked by a great diversity of race and language; and thirdly, the Confucian tradition of Fast Asia with China as the centre. Special emphasis is given to the governments within each culture and to the contacts within the Asian world. The continent’s trading centres and their routes, the silk trade and the spice trade, are examined.