Chapter 19 is unique and deserving of its own chapter, because while European imperial efforts affected China, the Ottoman Empire, and Japan, they shared notable similarities and occurred in ways that would reform their political, economic, and social environments. This was a culture of modernity that moved closer toward the concept of secularization, but a focus on human rights. These places already faced internal conflict, so dealing with European aggression and culture was a challenge, yet it helped influence fresh ideas for society.
I thought it was very smart of Strayer to call China's conflict a "reversal of fortune" and a "victim of its own earlier success" (834-835). From World History I up to this point, Strayer taught me that China experienced a golden age of accomplishment because of their creation of a successful, resourceful, civilization they established during the classical era. We even just wrapped up our discussions on European desires to get access to China's flourishing economy. So I was surprised to read about China's "century of crisis," caused by the intersection of internal conflict, social rebellions, European pressures, and failed attempts at "self-strengthening" because I was so used to learning about China's success for all of this time. China's conflict started with the government's inability to keep up with the growing population caused by the strong economy. Local officials took advantage of this disorder and emphasized tax collection. This exploitation of taxpayers and poor political leadership led to massive rebellions, the Taiping Uprising being the most notable, and millions of lives were lost even though the Qing dynasty survived. Europe's demands for less trade restriction, their introduction of opium to China, and their creation of unfair treaties like the Treaty of Nanking worsened this conflict.
Similarly, the Ottoman Empire declined due to European imperial efforts. It also faced a weak central state, a diminishing economy, and a growing dependency on Europe like China. The Ottoman state responded to its problems in several ways. One was through "defensive modernization" programs. Sultan Selim III initiated army updates. Another was through Tanzimat, reorganization, that included modernization through industrialization and Western policies. Diversity of religion was welcomed so that non-Muslims had equal legal rights, and women were given more opportunities for education. It was interesting to read about equality given to non-Muslims because in World Religions, the professor emphasizes that Islam is both a state and a religion, and that there is no separation between private and public. In a Western place like America, however, if a Muslim student were to start praying during a class lecture for example, people probably wouldn't be accepting of that because of secularism. This fight for education for women also reminded me of Malala Yousafzi's autobiography, I Am Malala. Furthermore, Islamic modernism referred to the favoring and acceptance of European and Western values in the Islamic world, especially by the Young Ottomans. Sultan called for a return to older despotic rule, but a group called the Young Turks opposed this and said European civilization was the way. Seeing the Ottoman Empire as a Turkish National State, they pushed for secularization that were replaced by the Turkish empire. Consequently, both China and the Ottoman Empire were evidently affected by colonial rule, but in ways that fave rise to future concepts of nationalism. They differed in that China's collapse and upheaval led to communist China, whereas the fall of the Ottoman Empire created a nation state. They were similar as both moved toward secularization, as China's rebellions rejected traditional Confucianism and Turkey rejected Islam.
Japan's encounter with European aggression helped create a new modernized industrial society. First off, in many ways Japan was changing during the Tokugawa Shogunate era. For example, their efforts created two centuries of peace and stability yet divide. A hierarchy emerged, a new administrative samurai class rose, and economy and commerce bursted. This was accompanied by a great migration to the cities that was characterized by disapproval and peasant uprisings, and people started to believe the shogunate was losing control. American intrusion led by Commodore Perry helped initiate the Meiji restoration which restored Japanese imperial rule and eliminated the shogunate without means of violence. This new political environment was an opportunity for transformation and development. This included national unity, the samurai's restoration of their traditional warrior class, and an appreciation of Western culture. This Western fascination, however, ended as there was an emphasis on Confucianism. I really love how Strayer never forgets to include the discussion of women at least once in every chapter. A small feminist movement in Japan rose as the oppression of women was becoming ancient, but still women's rights were still limited. Though Japan became modernized and industrial, peasants suffered the most from poverty. And while it was okay to exclude women from legal status and political life, it was acceptable to use them for labor because they needed them that bad to support the economic growth. Japan's relationship to the world changed during its modernization process, as the West revised their unequal treaties to become the Anglo-Japanese Treat of 1902, it created its own empire and was seen as a model for modern society.
I thought it was very smart of Strayer to call China's conflict a "reversal of fortune" and a "victim of its own earlier success" (834-835). From World History I up to this point, Strayer taught me that China experienced a golden age of accomplishment because of their creation of a successful, resourceful, civilization they established during the classical era. We even just wrapped up our discussions on European desires to get access to China's flourishing economy. So I was surprised to read about China's "century of crisis," caused by the intersection of internal conflict, social rebellions, European pressures, and failed attempts at "self-strengthening" because I was so used to learning about China's success for all of this time. China's conflict started with the government's inability to keep up with the growing population caused by the strong economy. Local officials took advantage of this disorder and emphasized tax collection. This exploitation of taxpayers and poor political leadership led to massive rebellions, the Taiping Uprising being the most notable, and millions of lives were lost even though the Qing dynasty survived. Europe's demands for less trade restriction, their introduction of opium to China, and their creation of unfair treaties like the Treaty of Nanking worsened this conflict.
Similarly, the Ottoman Empire declined due to European imperial efforts. It also faced a weak central state, a diminishing economy, and a growing dependency on Europe like China. The Ottoman state responded to its problems in several ways. One was through "defensive modernization" programs. Sultan Selim III initiated army updates. Another was through Tanzimat, reorganization, that included modernization through industrialization and Western policies. Diversity of religion was welcomed so that non-Muslims had equal legal rights, and women were given more opportunities for education. It was interesting to read about equality given to non-Muslims because in World Religions, the professor emphasizes that Islam is both a state and a religion, and that there is no separation between private and public. In a Western place like America, however, if a Muslim student were to start praying during a class lecture for example, people probably wouldn't be accepting of that because of secularism. This fight for education for women also reminded me of Malala Yousafzi's autobiography, I Am Malala. Furthermore, Islamic modernism referred to the favoring and acceptance of European and Western values in the Islamic world, especially by the Young Ottomans. Sultan called for a return to older despotic rule, but a group called the Young Turks opposed this and said European civilization was the way. Seeing the Ottoman Empire as a Turkish National State, they pushed for secularization that were replaced by the Turkish empire. Consequently, both China and the Ottoman Empire were evidently affected by colonial rule, but in ways that fave rise to future concepts of nationalism. They differed in that China's collapse and upheaval led to communist China, whereas the fall of the Ottoman Empire created a nation state. They were similar as both moved toward secularization, as China's rebellions rejected traditional Confucianism and Turkey rejected Islam.
Japan's encounter with European aggression helped create a new modernized industrial society. First off, in many ways Japan was changing during the Tokugawa Shogunate era. For example, their efforts created two centuries of peace and stability yet divide. A hierarchy emerged, a new administrative samurai class rose, and economy and commerce bursted. This was accompanied by a great migration to the cities that was characterized by disapproval and peasant uprisings, and people started to believe the shogunate was losing control. American intrusion led by Commodore Perry helped initiate the Meiji restoration which restored Japanese imperial rule and eliminated the shogunate without means of violence. This new political environment was an opportunity for transformation and development. This included national unity, the samurai's restoration of their traditional warrior class, and an appreciation of Western culture. This Western fascination, however, ended as there was an emphasis on Confucianism. I really love how Strayer never forgets to include the discussion of women at least once in every chapter. A small feminist movement in Japan rose as the oppression of women was becoming ancient, but still women's rights were still limited. Though Japan became modernized and industrial, peasants suffered the most from poverty. And while it was okay to exclude women from legal status and political life, it was acceptable to use them for labor because they needed them that bad to support the economic growth. Japan's relationship to the world changed during its modernization process, as the West revised their unequal treaties to become the Anglo-Japanese Treat of 1902, it created its own empire and was seen as a model for modern society.
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