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Period: 1526 to
Mughal Empire
The rulers of the 16th century were extremely wealthy and valued trade. The empire was at its peak, and they were ruled by Islamic leaders. The Mughals began imposing taxes on the Hindi population in the 18th century, sparking a war against the Hindus in the south. The economy also began to fail because they focused on agrarian communities in the center of India rather than attempting to industrialize. The empire was officially gone in 1858. -
Period: to
Tokugawa Shogunate
Because of the Tokugawa Shogunate's isolation, the Japanese missed out on the period of westernization. Isolationism resulted in many problems as industrialization progressed. The daimyo faced difficulties because their income was based on agricultural production, which had become much less valuable under the shogunate government. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the shogunate attempted a number of governmental reforms, but none of them improved the situation of Samurai or merchants. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty cont.
The reformers' goals were to modernize the civil service exam, encourage the development of new Western industries, standardize the government system to avoid corruption, and stop corruption in the education system. Because these reforms posed a significant threat to the power of the elite and wealthy, Cixi staged a coup and retook the throne in 1898. Cixi quickly undid the new reforms, infuriating peasants and widening China's class divide. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty
By 1861, the Dynasty needed to make a change in order to satisfy the working class. Empress Cixi took power in 1861, ushering in a period of reform aimed at strengthening the Qing Dynasty. Cixi's nephew Guangxu was named heir in 1873. From 1875-1908, he ruled. He was surrounded by a group of radical reformers who persuaded the Emperor to start the Hundred Day Reform period in 1898. Reformers were dissatisfied with the defeat they suffered at the hands of Japan in the Sino-Japanese War in 1895. -
Period: to
Bengal War
The English East India Company got enough land in India to dethrone regional rulers, defeat the French, and install a puppet government. They gained control of Bengal as British territory in 1757, and the Mughal Empire failed to retake the territory in the Bengal War. They controlled three-fifths of India by the 1800s. -
Period: to
Opium Wars
Millions of Qing citizens became addicted to opium over time, resulting in widespread addiction and reliance on British trade. Opium was outlawed by the Qing government in 1800. The Chinese government began to strictly enforce the opium ban and to prosecute opium pusher in 1839. Lin Zexu, a Chinese government official, advocated for the stoppage of all foreign trade until the British stopped smuggling opium and handed over their supplies. -
Period: to
Opium Wars cont.
Zexu also ordered Chinese forces to attack British ships and destroy any opium they came across. Tensions between the Chinese and the British erupted in November 1839 when Chinese and British warships attacked each other, resulting in war. The First Opium War lasted a little more than two years. Because of their advances in industrialization, the British were able to defeat Chinese troops. -
Treaty of Nanjing
The Treaty of Nanjing was forced upon the Chinese in 1842. During these negotiations, China was forced to open five more ports to foreign merchants, pay Britain a lot of compensation, hand over Hong Kong to the British, and give British merchants the right to live and be tried under British law. -
Indian Slavery Act
The East India Company implemented British policies. The act made economic transactions related to the institution of slavery illegal. The East India Company also prohibited the Caste System, which is Hinduism's religious social structure. Sati, the act of widows throwing themselves on their deceased husband's funeral pyre, was also outlawed in Great Britain. -
Period: to
Taiping Rebellion cont.
Hong Xiuquan joined forces with other radical groups and started rebelling in order to establish a new dynasty, wanting equal property distribution and the establishment of a classless society, which drew many people of the lower classes. The war lasted fourteen years. The Taiping army was well-organized and strictly followed rules, allowing the rebels to achieve early success. However, after the death of Hong Xiuquan, the Qing Dynasty was able to eventually defeat the rebels in 1864. -
Period: to
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion, which began in 1850, was the most devastating peasant revolt in history. The Taiping rebels belonged to the God Worshipping Society, which was led by Hong Xiuquan. Hong Xiuquan's forces were made up of Taiping Rebels. Hong Xiuquan saw himself as the next messiah, bound to transform China and create a Christian and Communist society. -
Favored-Nation Treaty
President Millard Filmore assigned Commodore Matthew Perry to deliver a personal message from Fillmore to Japan requesting trade with the US. The US was very focused on expanding its markets under Fillmore and wanted to make a trade agreement with Japan before Russia. The Americans wanted easy access to China and Southeast Asia. Perry's goal was to pressure the Japanese into agreeing to a favored-nation treaty so that Japan would no longer ignore America in terms of trade in the future. -
Sepoy Rebellion
Sepoy troops were Indian soldiers who were sent all over the world to serve. Mutiny broke out in 1857 as a result of the insensitive work that many believed Indian soldiers were forced to do. It resulted in an event known as the Sepoy Rebellion, where Indian soldiers started shooting British officers and seizing Delhi in 1858. The British Parliament got rid of the EIC in 1858 and decided to rule India directly in response. This marked the official beginning of the British Raj. -
Treaties of Tianjin
In 1858, the Chinese realized that their attempt to defeat the British was failing, so they signed the Treaties of Tianjin, which allowed foreign travel into China, provided more trade ports, and allowed Christian missionaries to travel through China. They also got rid of the ban on opium. -
Period: to
British conflict
In 1858, the British Parliament got rid of the EIC and declared direct rule over India. The British believed this was beneficial to the Indian population, but it was not. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 in response to poor treatment of Indian soldiers, British wars that harmed India's economy, and the problem with education. It marked the start of the National Independence movement, which happened for the same reasons that caused the formation of the Indian National Congress. -
Period: to
Meiji Restoration
Japanese people hoped for modernization and began to advocate for direct imperial rule to unite and strengthen the country. Japan experienced the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which saw the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the establishment of a military government, and the return of power to the emperor. The Meiji Restoration was a coup d'etat by the Samurai. The Samurai mainly wanted to strengthen their army and prevent feudal territories from fighting each other. -
Suez Canal
The British Parliament ruled India by appointing a British Viceroy. The goal of Parliament was to integrate India into the overall economy of the British Empire. India was viewed by Parliament as a good source of raw materials and a market for British goods. The Suez Canal opened in 1869, providing the British with easy access to India without having to go all the way around Africa, making it easier for them to force control. -
Period: to
Iwakura Mission
The Iwakura Mission was the journey of diplomats sent by the Meiji government to Western societies. Because of what they witnessed during the American Civil War, they concluded that a Democratic Republic would be dangerous. The Japanese modernized based on European institutions instead, and favored a parliamentary system. Following the diplomat's return, a bureaucratic government and a parliament were established. -
Diet
The Diet was a legislature with two branches created because of the constitution. The lower house was elected and the upper house was made up of daimyo who owned land. The Emperor was able to form a cabinet and appoint a Prime Minister to lead the legislature. Instead of being just a powerful figure, the Emperor retained control of the navy and gained real power. As the Japanese began to industrialize, large industrial powerhouse and banking families known as Zaibatsus started to dominate. -
Period: to
Boxer Rebellion
The presence of Christian missionaries and Western merchants who were given privileges in Chinese society frustrated a radical group known as the Right Harmonious Fists. When officials led by Cixi took power, the Boxer Rebellion began. Cixi encouraged the Boxers to attack Westerners throughout China and demanded the death of all foreigners. As a result, Western powers and Japan formed a force of multiple countries and attacked the Boxers, where the Boxers lost. -
Conflict between Japan and Russia cont.
The Japanese ended up defeating the Russians with a decisive victory. The Japanese kept control of Manchuria and Korea under the Treaty of Portsmouth. US President Theodore Roosevelt mediated the treaty negotiations. Japan's resources were also severely depleted. When Russian Emperor Nicholas refused to pay Japan's indemnities, Japan lacked the negotiating power. President Roosevelt backed Russia's decision to deny Japanese indemnities. -
Conflict between Japan and Russia
Russia began looking for a warm-water port, while mainly looking at a Japanese-ruled Korea. Negotiations were attempted between the Japanese and Russians, but Russia refused to compromise, and on February 8, 1904, the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the Russians at a Russian Navy base. The Japanese declared war, launching a year-long conflict that caused over 150,000 deaths. The majority of the fighting took place in Manchuria and China. -
Amritsar Massacre
Conflict arose in Amritsar as a result of the rise of the Nationalist movement. In response to anti-British-rule protests, the city banned public meetings a few days before April 13th, 1919. On April 19th, a group gathered in the city park to celebrate the Sikh Baisakhi festival, not knowing that there was a ban. A national demonstration was also taking place in the park, and British troops opened fire on the crowd without warning, killing hundreds of people.
