Expert: Francesco Marchesani - 12/7/2005

Question



Hi, I have come to you before and you were very helpful. I have an essay due and need some help with a jumpstart.

The essay prompt is: Which problems did the Chinese and Japanese governments have to confront in the nineteenth century? How were their solutions similar or different? What, in your opinion, best explains these similarities or differences?


I assume the path to take here is "imperialism" and how each country dealt with imperialism on thier own. Do you think I am on the right track? Could go in depth on Opium War, Taiping Rebellion, etc. Any other ideas what to cover. It's a 1500 word essay and don't know how to get all that out of it.

Answer
Hello,
I think you are on the right track: Japan and China both had to deal with imperialism. However, during the middle of the nineteenth century, they took opposite roads: Japan developed into a strongly centralized nation, abolished feudalism and became a modern "european-style" country which begun its own imperialistic expansion; China instead, remained in a condition of anarchy, divided into various semi-autonomous regions waging war to each other for supremacy, thus failing to respond united to the threat of the imperialistic countries.