Compare the development of two imperial powers. What factors inspired these nations to develop empires? How did the powers first gain control over their imperial territories? How did they administer their territories? What role did the local populations play in the imperial relationship? Solution Britain and Japan are the two great industrial imperial forces of the modern world. Britain dominated the Western, European-dominated world and Japan of the Eastern, non-European, and to many eyes, the hope of the third world. They many things in common, groups of islands, more civilized and powerful, and defence services. Britain was the first industrial nation at a time when nobody knew what an industrial revolution was. It was slowly evolving without even aware what modernization would be. But Japan was fast to realize what the gains and danger of industrialization were and adopted it self-consciously with revolutionary speed. Japan transformed itself from a feudal society to the most efficient industrial and egalitarian aristocracies in the world. The fact is that the then leaders of Meiji Restoration were prepared to abolish feudalism, establish equality, and contribute to the survival and development of the country. The British educational road was very much slower in relation to Japanese education system which very much advanced. British managers never went to university unlike their Japanese counterparts who went to a variety of technical colleges. Japan believes in full-time higher education and has far larger number of universities and colleges. The key to the British industrial revolution was social ambition and that of Japan was to expel the barbarians and restore independence. In Britain there is a gentleman’s agreement, more gentlemanly tradition. Welfare, leisure, and a civilized social life are more important acquisitions of the British, and economic growth came second. Britain and Japan took two different routes because they were two different societies with different social structures and ideals. *****.

1. Compare the development of two imperial powers. What factors inspired these nations to
develop empires? How did the powers first gain control over their imperial territories? How did
they administer their territories? What role did the local populations play in the imperial
relationship?
Solution
Britain and Japan are the two great industrial imperial forces of the modern world. Britain
dominated the Western, European-dominated world and Japan of the Eastern, non-European, and
to many eyes, the hope of the third world. They many things in common, groups of islands, more
civilized and powerful, and defence services.
Britain was the first industrial nation at a time when nobody knew what an industrial revolution
was. It was slowly evolving without even aware what modernization would be. But Japan was
fast to realize what the gains and danger of industrialization were and adopted it self-consciously
with revolutionary speed.
Japan transformed itself from a feudal society to the most efficient industrial and egalitarian
aristocracies in the world. The fact is that the then leaders of Meiji Restoration were prepared to
abolish feudalism, establish equality, and contribute to the survival and development of the
country. The British educational road was very much slower in relation to Japanese education
system which very much advanced.
British managers never went to university unlike their Japanese counterparts who went to a
variety of technical colleges. Japan believes in full-time higher education and has far larger
number of universities and colleges. The key to the British industrial revolution was social
ambition and that of Japan was to expel the barbarians and restore independence. In Britain there
is a gentleman’s agreement, more gentlemanly tradition. Welfare, leisure, and a civilized social
life are more important acquisitions of the British, and economic growth came second. Britain
and Japan took two different routes because they were two different societies with different
social structures and ideals.
*****