abaib Flashcards
Which countries took an interest in Japan in the 19th century?
In the 19th century, powers such as France, Russia and the USA all began to take a closer interest in Japan.
Why did Western powers want to trade with Japan?
They suspected that trading there would be very profitable, and they wanted the country opened.
What happened during the Great Peace?
During the Great Peace, which lasted for most of the Tokugawa era, some Japanese people continued to take an interest in the outside world, especially China and the West.
Why was learning about the outside world difficult for Japan?
Learning about the world beyond Japan remained difficult.
How did the ban on Christianity affect access to European books?
The ban on Christianity meant that people were wary of obtaining European books, which were expensive anyway because so few of them could be bought from the Dutch in their twice-yearly visits to Nagasaki.
How did European books influence Japan?
Enough European books got into Japan for a few daimyo to establish centres of ‘Dutch Studies’ – schools for learning about the West.
What did Japanese craftsmen learn from European inventions?
Japanese craftsmen studied and learned the secrets of whatever inventions did arrive from Europe, and they were soon able to manufacture clocks or scientific instruments with just as much precision as anyone outside Japan.
How did Japanese curiosity about life outside Japan grow?
Curiosity about the outside world and how Japan was seen was increasing.
How did foreign attempts to contact Japan grow in the early 19th century?
In the early 19th century, there were Russian landings on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, which lie to the north of Japan.
How did the British start expanding their presence near Japan?
British ships also began sailing through Japanese waters.
What was Japan’s response to foreign ships in 1825?
In 1825 the shogunate renewed a decree known as the ‘no second thought’ law, whereby any foreigner who came ashore must be immediately arrested or killed.
What happened in 1842 that alarmed Japan?
In 1842, the British inflicted a humiliating defeat on China during the First Opium War, forcing China to let them trade in many Chinese ports that had previously been closed.
How did the Tokugawa government react to Britain’s victory over China?
The Tokugawa government observed these events with serious concern.
What did Western powers gain after the Opium War?
The Western powers now had enough military strength to force an Asian country to accept them as trading partners.
What question did Japan face after witnessing China’s defeat?
What was to stop them doing the same to Japan?
