OSHER 351 - Vietnam and Indochina Wars

Several wars, or one long war with different names? From 1947-1979, nationalist Vietnamese fought against French, American, and Chinese forces. To the French it was the Indochina war; to the Americans, the Vietnam war. We will examine the background and history of the Franco-Viet Minh war and the American war in Southeast Asia. Novels, poetry, music and historical texts will illuminate the political and personal aspects of the wars.