Question

Describe the development of Japan, China, and the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. Which was most "western"

Answer 1

During the 19th century many countries in Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America faced severe internal and economic peoblems and many crisis and faced under the control of a much powerful Europe.

However countries like China, Japan and the Ottoman Empire could maintain their independence from European Imperialism.

Let us discuss one by one, the development of China, Japan and the Ottoman Empire duuring the 19th century.

Development of China:

During the 19th century, China faced a massive growth in population which resulted in a scarcity of land for farming looking at the huge peasant population of China. China faced severe unemployment, poverty ,starvation and misery. The China's central government could not handle the situation and had very poor methods to handle social welfare, taxes, public security as well as flood control methods. As a result, the central government lost power to many local landowners and provinces. Many of these local landowners and provincial rulers were extremely corrupt and ill treated the poor peasants in a very harsh manner. China also faced severe economic and other problems like illegal opium trading and a very big population became addicted to it. Many Western that is British and American merchants sold opium illegally in China. China also lost some of it's land to Western military forces. China lost many wars, to the French, Vietnam,France,Japan and even Russia. These countries even made their military bases in China, built railroads and even extracted their raw materials.

Development of Japan:

In the 19th century Japan saw a major change in conservative internal policies to modernize and engage with the rest of the world.Japan enjoyed internal peace much more than China and the Ottoman Empire. Japan started advancing in technology as well. Japan did not concede to Western powers. Japan tried to modernize it's society by opening it's borders to allow engineers, scientists, educators, painters and architects from alll over the world and develop the nation. The western powers still tried to influence Japan by forcing it to sign unequal treaties of trade and capitulations, but Japan managed to renegotiate it's treaties in it's favor and negotiated much better than China and Ottoman Empire.

Development of Ottoman Empire:

During the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire faced several invasions and occupations from the Western powers. To face these foreign attacks, the Ottoman Empire made several internal reforms to strengthen it's cenntral state. In course of time the Ottoman Empire became very powerful and had greater control over thier population than ever in any previous era. They kept on modernizing and reforming the empire and had built a very strong army. It faced a rise of nationalism in this era. In contrast to China and Japan, the Ottoman Empire had a very liberal trade policy and was very open to foreign imports. It made several reforms like developing a new secular school system, modernizing the army, creating provincial representative assemblies and very powerful criminal and commercial laws.

Now regarding which was the most Western out of China, Japan and Ottoman Empire. I would say that China was out of the race and the fight would be between Japan and Ottoman Empire. Though the Ottoman Empire had open trade policies and conceded some parts of their lands to Western Powers, most of thier policies and reforms were totally internal in nature.

Even though Japan on the other hand had a much balanced trade policies with the Western powers and did not concede it's land to anybody, it had opened up it's borders to allow engineers, architects, scientists, painters and education experts from all around the world, most of whom where from Western countries. Japan's technology and military were matched upto Western standards and levels and so where it's policies and reforms. Hence Japan was most Western in comparison to the Ottoman Empire and China.