Imperialism in India and China Imperialism against Muslim led empires and Isolated China
Dec 26, 2015
Imperialism in India and China
Imperialism against Muslim led empires and Isolated China
Declining EmpiresMany empires were in decline in the early 1800s, the Muslim led empires were no exception:
1) Mughals of India2) Ottomans of the mid-East3) Safavids of Iran
Ottoman’s DeclineThe ottoman empire was controlled by power-hungry provincial rulers, which weakened the authority of the central government.
Ottoman Empire was composed of diverse ethnicities nationalism sparked revolts
The capital city was Istanbul, but many still called it Constantinople. This is the time period when the
name change took place, remember that
Byzantium= Constantinople=IstanbulDepending who is ruling, names change
*Present day Turkey*
Armenian (Christian) MassacreThe Ottoman empire allowed many minorities to live throughout the empire and practice their own faiths. But as Nationalism grows tolerance weakened
These tensions triggered a massacre of the Armenians, a Christian group concentrated in the mountains of the Ottoman Empire .
The Turks accused the Armenians of plotting with Russians against the Ottoman Empire.
Over one million were killed between the 1890s and 1910s
GenocideThe Armenian massacre is an act of genocide:
Deliberate attempt to destroy an entire religious or ethnic group
Genocide has occurred in many regions, in many time periods, including today:•Rwanda•Darfur (Sudan)•Bosnia•Congo•Uganda
British in IndiaThough the Mughals were in charge of India, the British began exerting control in the 1600s. (Protectorate)The British started the British East India company to oversee their trading empire in India.
The main goal of the British was to make money, but they also had a positive side effect:
-built roads to improve transportation-built railroads to move goods and people faster-founded schools to promote western thought
Why would the schools in India be promoting western thought?
They can promote western values to the children, who grow up believing it
Why India?
Remember the three motives for imperialism:-Economic (hungry)-Political (King Kong)-Humanitarian
Which motive does this image demonstrate?
British MissionariesMissionaries tried to convert Indians away from their religions (___________) and ( ______________). -Wanted to end slavery and the caste system-Outlawed the sati- a suicide by a widow upon herhusbands death fire.
Missionaries spread Christianity and worked to ‘civilize’ the Indians.
Hinduism Buddhism
Officially outlawed 1829“Comprehending why a woman would choose to commit sati, however, requires the removal of our western lenses. The act of self-immolation of widows on their husband’s funeral pyre may be construed as a horrific act by the Westerner but in India cases of sati have been documented in their culture for hundreds of years (Oldenburg 1994: 165). ” More important, the symbolic significance of sati is intricately intertwined in the Hindu belief system.
Was it right for the British to outlaw Sati in 1829? Why or why not
RebellionMany areas of India resisted British Rule which required direct rule, with occupying forces of troops. (colonies)
The British built long tracks of railroads so they could quickly move troops to trouble areas, and move goods from the interior to the coast for shipment.
Sepoy RebellionSepoy= Indian soldiers for the British Army
In the 1950s the British took several unpopular steps:
- Sepoys could serve anywhere, domestically or abroad
- Widows can remarry
Sepoy Rebellion
These measures don’t seem severe until you realize:
-High caste Hindus cannot travel overseas as a part of their belief system -Hinduism prohibits a woman to re-marry if her husband passes
The Indians see these changes as a way to force Christian and Western ideals onto the Hindus.
Final Insult- Sepoy RebellionIn 1857 the British East India Trading Company gave the Sepoy troops new guns with new ammunition. To load the gun, they had to bite off the tip of the cartridges. However, these cartridges were sealed with animal fat, either cow or pig. The problem?
Sacred to Hindus
Forbidden to Muslims
Rebellion 1857
Angry Sepoys rebelled and marched to Delhi, where they called for support from fellow Indians, Muslims and Hindus;
“It is well known to all, that in this age the people of [India], both Hindus and Muslims, are being ruined under the tyranny and oppression of the infidel and treacherous English. It is therefore the duty of all the wealthy people of India… to stake their lives and property for the well being of the public.”
The Sepoys brutally murdered British men, women and children.
SuppressionThe British troops rallied and killed thousands of unarmed Indians.
a. Parliament abolished the East India Trading company and established direct rule.
b. More British troops occupied India
c. Taxes were raised to pay for occupation
FaminesThe British soon convinced the Indians to grow cash crops such as Cotton and Opium instead of food crops needed to feed the growing population. This led to a number of famines in the 1800s and 1900s.
Many Indians sank into poverty, with nearly 10 million perishing over the course of British rule.
**Warning: This next video is quite graphic**
The Indians were forced to grow cash crops like cotton and opium instead of food causing
starvation. What situation does this resemble?
The “Brightest Jewel”India was source of pride to British Imperialists. Rule under the British was a mixed
bag, with both positives and negatives
Positives Negatives-Updated law code-Telegraph and postal communication systems-Improved transportation with Roads and Railroads-Increased world trade
-British forced reforms despite offending religion and traditions-Viewed Indians as inferior to British-forced to grow cash crops reduced the food supply-exploited Indian labor and resources
China
In the 1700s China had strict trading limits with foreigners. European merchants were only allowed in South China.
The Chinese sold silk, tea and porcelain for gold and silver.
This led to a favorable balance of trade for the Chinese- they were exporting more than importing. Claimed they wanted nothing from the West.
It also led to a trade deficit for the Europeans who were importing more than exporting from China.
Opium
The British eventually discovered they could sell Indian grown Opium to the Chinese in exchange for tea and money, leading to huge profits.
Opium is made from the poppy plant, which grows abundantly in Europe. It is HIGHLY addictive.
The British had a strict ban on opium in England, but continued to export it to China. Right or wrong?
Post Thanksgiving Review
Before break we were discussing imperialism. You need to know:-motives-forms -white man’s burden-examples such as British India, Chinese spheres of influence, Africa, etc. -Events such as the Boer war, Opium war, Sepoy Rebellion, etc.
6:30-13:25 & 15:40- 17:15 & 20:56-23:46
Opium Wars 1839-1842Eventually the Chinese used force, firing upon British Ships carrying Opium. However, the British had better weapons than the Chinese and soon defeated them.
In 1842 the Chinese were forced to sign the Nanjing treaty. The British gained:
-Money-Hong Kong-opened trading with the Chinese-Favored nation clause
Chinese Spheres of InfluenceThe Western powers viewed this defeat as a sign that China was weak, and they began carving out spheres of influence
Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864
By the early 1800s China was riddled with corruption. Government officials abused their power, the rich avoided paying taxes, and the peasants were left to shoulder the economic burden.
The peasants revolted and were led by Hong Xiuquan, who encouraged morality, public ownership of land and an end to the Qing dynasty.
This became the most devastating revolt in history, and 20-30 million Chinese were killed.
Open Door Policy 1899The Americans did not join in the race for Spheres of Influence in China. Instead, they proposed an Open Door Policy. This policy would open trade in China to all.
-equal trading rights for all nations
-stop further expansion but did not help restore ChineseSovereignty
Boxer Rebellion 1900Fed up with the foreign invaders, many Chinese nationalists fought back. They began the Boxer Rebellion to force out the Foreign Devils.
The Boxers attacked communities where Westerners lived and any Chinese who had converted to Christianity. The foreign countries recognized this as a threat and quickly crushed the rebellion.
3:16
China EvolvesAfter the Boxer Rebellions the Chinese finally accept the fact that they must modernize. The Empress Ci Xi died, finally giving reformers a chance to set up a republic. For the next 20 years China would fight its self to become a stable, strong nations, without foreign control.
The Chinese set up a republic, but it struggled to stabilize the nation. Soon, a communist government is established and the Chinese continue to exist under a communist rule.
ReviewWhich statement best expresses the motive for 19th-century European imperialism?
1. Living space was needed for the excess population of Western Europe
2. European leaders believed imperialism was an effective method of reducing the number of wars
3. European nations would benefit from some aspects of the conquered nation’s culture
4. Imperialism would benefit the economies of the colonial powers
ReviewThe borders that were established for many African nations during the late 1800s were based primarily on
1. Natural geographic barriers2. Easy access to natural resources3. Territorial claims of colonial rulers4. Cultural differences between ethnic groups
ReviewIn 19th-century China, the Opium War resulted in
1. The control of Hong Kong being returned to China
2. The removal of all British naval forces from china
3. An increase in European spheres of influence in China
4. The rejection of Buddhism by the Chinese people
Review“Compared to other peoples of the world we have the greatest (largest) population and our civilization is four thousand years old…Today we are the poorest and weakest nation in the world and occupy the lowest position in international affairs. Other men are the carving knife and serving dish, we are the fish and the meat. As a consequence…we are being transformed everywhere into a colony of the foreign powers.”
Which events formed the basis for the ideas expressed in this early 1900’s passage?
1. Opium war and boxer Rebellion2. Mau Mau uprising and adoption of apartheid3. Sepoy mutiny and the slat march4. Haitian Revolution and Cortes’ march on Mexico City
ReviewDuring the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans improved roads and bridges and built railroads in their colonies primarily to
1. Provide jobs for all children2. obtain raw materials needed for
industrialization3. Impress the colonists with their technological
knowledge4. Help missionaries spread Christianity