Chapter 19 Responses

Chapter 19 Responses

What accounts for the massive peasant rebellions of 19th century China?

Unlike in Europe, no Industrial Revolution occurred in China to accompany the massive increase in population which the country had seen, nor did China's internal expansion to the west and south generate anything even remotely resembling the wealth and resources deriving from Europe's overseas empires.  As a result, there was growing pressure on the land, smaller farms for China's vast peasant population, and widespread unemployment, impoverishment, misery, and starvation.  In addition to this, China's centralized and bureaucratic state failed to enlarge itself to keep peace with the growing population, leaving it increasingly unable to perform its many functions in an effective manner, which left most of the power to local provincial officials.  However, these officials often were corrupt and brutal in their treatment of the peasants.  To top it all off, European military pressure and economic penetration was leading to substantial unemployment and raised peasant taxes.

What lay behind the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century?

The Ottoman Empire's territory had shrunk as a result of Russian, British, Austrian, and French aggression.  In particular, Napoleon's invasion of Egypt was a stunning blow, and when the French left, a newly independent Egypt started a modernizing and empire-building program on its own, on one occasion nearly overthrew the Ottoman Empire itself.  In addition, other parts of the empire, such as Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, achieved independence based on their own increasing nationalism and British and Russian support.  Like in China, the central Ottoman state had weakened, especially in its ability to raise revenue, and its military had weakened.  Economically, they lost their central role in Afro-Eurasian commerce thanks to the Europeans achieving direct oceanic access to Asia.

In what respects was Japan’s 19th century transformation revolutionary?

The means of promoting national unity marked a major break with the past, as it required an attack on the traditional power and privileges of the daimyo and the samurai, with the government now being centralized and featuring regional governors appointed by the national government.  In addition, the central state, not local authorities, now had the power to collect the nation's taxes and raise a national army.  As a result, the old social order was essentially abolished, and almost all Japanese were now legally equal as commoners and imperial subjects.  In addition, there was a widespread interest in the Western world, and to adopting Western ways, and later blending foreign and Japanese elements in distinct ways.