Ch 19
Strayer seems to have a whole chapter on the demise of the Ottoman Empire and China's crisis. It is interesting that we knew very little of their success and now a little bit of their failures etc. Looking at China now and how over populated their country is, it is good to actually know some of the why's and how their country grew to be just so. China could not provide for the increasing population, but at least now we know why. Other countries were growing in population, but it truly was the industrial revolution that helped accommodate those extra people. Industrial Revolution also move people into a forward era. For example, Europe was progressing, and their economic boom is what helped. China struggled, and most of their population ended up being peasants, unemployed and led to many starving people. Their economy was taking a turn. From being known as a powerful, leading country-- eventually started to falter. They started to rely on Europe for their needs. Of course Europe being Europe saw this vulnerability and pounced.
China was struggling and having internal conflict. They were literally caving from within. The internal conflicts which led to revolts and rebellions essentially drained their economy. They no longer had the means to provide security, control their people and maintain taxes, so local avenues took over. This led to corruption. Chaos amongst the people made them weak. Britain introduced opium and even smuggled them into China. In Britain's eyes, it was just another way to profit. However, this was another factor to the destruction of such a powerful nation. Britain pretty much forced their way into China. With the usage of unfair treaties, Britain found themselves where they wanted to be years before-- trading within Asia. Interesting how it was China that was in control and how the tables have turned.
Similar with the Ottoman Empire. European countries saw the empires weaknesses, and infiltrated. Ottoman Empire started to have trouble keeping control of their territories, and the spread of Christianity at a minimum. The power of religion. This created a secularization. Christianity was the way to go and so is the European way of life. This challenged Islamic ways and views. Compared to China, from the Ottoman Empire birthed a new nation-- Turkish republic. This opposed and had different views compared to the Ottoman Empire. This was a more modern and progressive empire. They adopted many Western beliefs, which goes to show how much power Europeans really did have.
Japan on the other had became a big player. A new Asian power came about. Japan could have ended up the same way as China, but instead learned for their mistakes. Modernization came from first creating unity as a nation. While they did not abandon their own ways for the Western way, they ensured that Japanese way was still the main way but incorporating some Western ways. Amongst these three nations and empires, women rights and gender equality started to grow. Women were being more and more hungry for equality or even just education. They just wanted progress.
China was struggling and having internal conflict. They were literally caving from within. The internal conflicts which led to revolts and rebellions essentially drained their economy. They no longer had the means to provide security, control their people and maintain taxes, so local avenues took over. This led to corruption. Chaos amongst the people made them weak. Britain introduced opium and even smuggled them into China. In Britain's eyes, it was just another way to profit. However, this was another factor to the destruction of such a powerful nation. Britain pretty much forced their way into China. With the usage of unfair treaties, Britain found themselves where they wanted to be years before-- trading within Asia. Interesting how it was China that was in control and how the tables have turned.
Similar with the Ottoman Empire. European countries saw the empires weaknesses, and infiltrated. Ottoman Empire started to have trouble keeping control of their territories, and the spread of Christianity at a minimum. The power of religion. This created a secularization. Christianity was the way to go and so is the European way of life. This challenged Islamic ways and views. Compared to China, from the Ottoman Empire birthed a new nation-- Turkish republic. This opposed and had different views compared to the Ottoman Empire. This was a more modern and progressive empire. They adopted many Western beliefs, which goes to show how much power Europeans really did have.
Japan on the other had became a big player. A new Asian power came about. Japan could have ended up the same way as China, but instead learned for their mistakes. Modernization came from first creating unity as a nation. While they did not abandon their own ways for the Western way, they ensured that Japanese way was still the main way but incorporating some Western ways. Amongst these three nations and empires, women rights and gender equality started to grow. Women were being more and more hungry for equality or even just education. They just wanted progress.
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