Japan, China, Russia & the Ottoman Empire:How similar were the responses of these societies to western pressure?

AP World History

Richard Smart

Oakland Mills High School

Metanarratives…How do we explain the 19th Century?

Revolution, Liberalism,

Conservatism & nationalism

Industrialization

UrbanizationTransportationCommunicatio

n

ImperialismColonialismDarwinism

Progress

Russia, China, Japan & the Ottoman Empire in Context…

Japan•Heian Japan•Feudal Japan•Tokugawa•Meiji Resoration

China•Shang•Han•Tsang & Song•Yuan•Ming & Qing

Russia•Slavic Russia•Viking Russia•Golden Horde•Duchy of Moscovy•Romanovs

Ottoman Empire•Byzantine Empire•Mehmet & Suleiman•Decline in 1700s

Responses to Westernization

Similarities Programs of Westernization

Muhammad Ali Tanzimat Emancipation of the Serfs Self-Strengthening

Movement Meiji Resoration

Increased industrialization. Muhammad Ali Witte System. Meiji Resoration

Cultural reactions. Russification Boxer Rebellion

Differences Level of dependence on the

West. China & Ottoman most

Spheres of Influence Capitulations.

Japan least Level of acceptance of

industrialization. China least Japan most

Level of cultural compromise. China least Russia most

19C Russia and LaborFrom: (1750) 1762-96: Catherine II: serfdom expands

Through 1855-81: Alexander II: Great Reforms: Emancipation of serfs 1880s on: Industrialization : Railroads, Factories, state support Industrial class small: Skilled artisans and semi-skilled industrial labor force Poor industrial working conditions Labor still agricultural, troubled countryside Trans-Siberian RR Growing semi-skilled labor force recruited from countryside Urban unrest: coercive legislation to prevent unions

To: (1914) 1900: half of Russian industry foreign-owned; Russia, 4th ranked in steel prod, 2nd to US petroleum & refining Urban working class =2.3 million out of 100 million population

Continuities: Oppressive labor conditions: agric./mining/industry Low levels of tech. and skill in labor force

Conclusions & Questions…

How can we explain Japan’s success in comparison to the other states?

Are these sensible theses, or are there alternatives? China’s market was so valuable to the West that its

interference crippled China politically. Russia’s massive agricultural population could not

industrialize at the rate needed for competition with Japan & the West.

Conservatism in the Ottoman Empire restricted industrial development and reduced the Empire to a 2nd rate power.