This course provides students with a broad introduction to the rich variety of Asian civilizations, with special emphasis on the development of Chinese Indian empires and East Asia regions, dynasties, and republics. The class covers in some detail twentieth century wars in Asia and the West. In addition, the class explores Asian religion, independence struggles, Asian diasporas and the effects of globalization in Asia and the world.

1. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAPAN’S AND CHINA’S
RESPONSES TO IMPERIALISM
Group Presentation
IPE257: Asian History

4. China: Pre-Imperialism
▪ Isolation and no contact with Europe
▪ Disconnected from trade and resented Western ideas and
concepts
▪ Believe themselves to have more superior way of life than all
other foreign nations.

5. Imperialist Demands on China
▪ Open up 4 more ports
▪ To pay taxes directly to British government
▪ In order to the treaty, China would give over Hong Kong
The Impact of China
▪ Struggling with opium-addiction in effect of the Opium wars.
▪ Given up all ways of life to the British.
▪ Dramatically loss of culture and security.
▪ To sign a series of unequal treaties. .

6. China’s response to Imperialism
▪ China’s disagreement with this foreign control created brutal rebellions such as
1. the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)
2. the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)
Effects of the China’s response
▪ China was forced into treaties again that were against their ideas of their traditional culture
▪ China also entered into way of life that involved both international trade but the beginning of
Westernization in China
▪ Europe began to develop a sphere of influence over China.

7. Japan: Pre-Imperialism
▪ In the early 1700s, Japan had shut itself off from almost all contact with other nations.
▪ Did not have any contact with industrialized world during 1700s.
▪ Under the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, Japanese society was very ordered.
▪ The shogun parceled out land to keep the country free to civil war.
▪ Peace and relative prosperity reigned in Japan for two centuries.

8. Imperialist Demands on Japan
▪ Westerners tried to convince the Japanese to open their ports to
trade.
▪ The U.S sent Matthew Perry to ask Japan to allow free trade.
▪ Japan’s response was the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854.
The impact of Japan
▪ Negative sign from the Japanese people for their shogun.
▪ Replaced Shogun with Mutsuhito.
▪ Mutsuhito reign, which lasted 45 years, is known as the Meiji era.

9. Japan’s responses to Imperialism
▪ The Meiji Restoration.
▪ Mutsuhito realized that the best way to counter Western influence was
to modernize
▪ Sent diplomats to western to study Western ways.
▪ Believed that Western civilization had to offer and adapted it to their
own country.
The Result of Japan’s responses
▪ Following the Western path of industrialization.
▪ By the early 20th
century, the Japanese economy had become modern
▪ By 1890, the country had several dozen warships and 500,000
well-trained, and well-armed soldiers.
▪ Became the strongest military power in Asia.

10. Conclusion: The differences between Japan’s and China’s responses
■ The countries of both China and Japan were negatively affected by European and American
Imperialism.
■ However, Japan became more willing to accept the concept of modernization.
■ Japan responded by beginning to industrialize.
■ China, on the other hand, remained unwilling to support westernization due to them believing in their
superiority and isolation.
■ China was sectioned off by western power.

11. Thank You Very Much!