Decline of Ottoman and Qing Empires &

19th Century JapanChapters 26 and (partial) 27

Decline of Ottoman Empire (OE)In the late 19th c., the OE, now small, weak, and in

debt, became known as the “Sick Man of Europe”Threats from Russia and Austria resulted in

territorial lossesBecause of instability, independence

movements also because it is a multinational empire

A shift from land to sea routes hurt the OE economically, as Eur. traded directly with Asia and cut out the Muslim/OE middleman

Decline of Ottoman Empire (OE)British and French influence did slow the decline

Fearful that the collapse of the OE would strengthen the Russian Empire, Britain and France lent economic support to the sultans and tried to maintain the balance of power

By 1900, smaller, considerably weaker, and in debt, the OE launched a series of unsuccessful reforms to save the empire

Muhammad AliEmerged as the ruler of Egypt following an

unsuccessful invasion by Napoleon in 1798Although Egypt was theoretically part of the OE,

the sultans were not strong enough to prevent Ali from establishing an autonomous state

Provided evidence of a weakened state of the OEModernized the nation by focusing on the military

and industrialization

Armenian GenocideThe massive and deliberate killing of Armenian civilians

by the Ottoman TurksAs the Ottomans attempted to reform society in the hope

of preventing the empire’s collapse, nationalism increasedWith in nationalism, the govt. (which had been tolerant

of other religions/ethnic groups) began to distrust citizens In the 1890’s, Turks targeted Christian Armenians

believing they were supporting Russia and not loyal to the empire

Genocide ensued…millions of Armenians killed over a 25-year period

The Ottoman Empire in the late 18th Century

Opium War: CausesConflict b/t Britain and China (1839-1842) over British

sale of opium in ChinaChina maintained a favorable balance of trade

Europeans demanded Chinese goods inc. silk and tea and paid for these products in silver

In the late 1700’s, the British East India Company began importing opium into China, where they traded it for silver and thus threatened the trade balance

In 1839, Chinese govt. official Lin Zexu ordered the confiscation and destruction of opium British response=military action against the Chinese

Opium War: ResultsBritain’s superior military led to a decisive victory over

the Chinese and the signing of a series of unequal treaties

Treaty of Nanjing: Required China to pay for the cost of the war and the cost of

the destroyed opium China was forced to open additional ports to foreign trade China was forced to give up Hong Kong to Britain and grant

British citizens extraterritoriality

Treaty results: weakened China economically and other foreign countries took advantage of China’s weakened state and est. their own sphere of influence there

Opium War: ResultsThe sustained presence of foreigners in the nation

led to conflict within ChinaChinese nationalists blamed the government for

the presence of foreigners in the countryIn the second half of the 19th c., Chinese

nationalism increased as groups worked

Taiping Rebellion (1850s-1860s)Rebellion by Chinese peasants that threatened

Qing dynastyThe Taiping offered a new vision of China that inc.

redistribution of land, public education, and rights for women

Successful in gaining supporters but ended unsuccessfully and with a huge loss of lifebut did cause Qing to make reforms such as Self-

Strengthening Movement

Qing organized powerful army and had support of scholar-gentry

Self-Strengthening MovementQing reforms enacted as a direct result of the

Taiping RebellionFocused on the introduction of Western

technology in the hopes of modernizing the nationReform had limited success

China remained an agrarian-based society centered on traditional Confucian thought

Spheres of InfluenceAn area of economic influence/controlEst. in China in 19th c.

At first, foreigners took advantage of a weakened China and seized control of China’s tributary states (e.g., France took control of Vietnam in 1885)

Eventually, western nations gained exclusive trading rights within ChinaNations including Germany and France

Chinese response inc. rise in nationalism and internal rebellions, e.g. Boxer Rebellion

Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900)Internal rebellion led by a group known as Boxers,

who unsuccessfully sought to rid China of foreign influence

Boxers had imperial supportActions inc. attacking and killing foreigners and

Chinese ChristiansQuickly put down by foreign forces

Allowed foreigners to gain even more concessions from Qing

China had to pay for damages to foreign-held property

Rebellion further weakened ruling family

Fall of the QingDespite attempts at reform, unequal treaties and

numerous internal rebellions left ruling family weak1911: revolution broke out in China

Nationalism had been increasingAfter the death of Empress Dowager Cixi, nation was

poised for revolution

In 1912, Qing ruler abdicated and Chinese nationalists called for new government

Sun Yat-sen, revolutionary leader, envisioned a China free of foreigners and was poised to take control

China During the Qing Era

Opening of JapanAfter 200 years of self-imposed isolation, Japan

forced to open doors to world after U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrived

Perry arrived in 1853, and under orders of U.S. president, requested Japan open to foreign trade

U.S. wanted new markets for industrialization and Japan offered new economic opportunities

Treaty of Kanagawa: signed by U.S. and Japan & opened Japan to foreign trade

Major result: Japan on fast track to modernization

Meiji RestorationAfter Japan ended isolation, rebellion led to the

overthrow of the shogun and was replaced by an emperor Initiated a series of social, economic, and political

reforms

Centralized govt. was established with a new constitution, two-house system, and emperor retained most control

Fearful that Japan would have same fate as China, Meiji reformers sought to modernize the nation by selectively borrowing western ideas

Meiji RestorationJapanese economy quickly industrialized with

support of govt.Built factories, railroads and banks

Modernized army and navyImproved health care and education systemModernization began quickly and by 1900 began

to follow a foreign policy of empire building that would lead to conflict with its neighbors in the regionWill attempt to establish global power

Russo-Japanese WarConflict b/t Russia and Japan for control over parts

of Korea and ManchuriaJapan’s victory over China surprised and worried

Russians who had imperial hopes of controlling Korea and Manchuria

In 1904, Japan attacked Port Arthur, a Russian port in southern Manchuria and then Korea

Russia and Japan battled on both land and sea Japan victorious

Russo-Japanese WarUnder the Treaty of Portsmouth, Russia gave their

largest island in the Pacific and their lease to Port Arthur to JapanAlso gave up claim to ManchuriaKorea was named part of Japan’s sphere of influence

Russia’s defeat in East Asia marked the first time an Eastern power had won a decisive victory over a Western onePaved the way for Japan to be the premier empire

builder in Asia

Russo-Japanese War