Declining Empires in the 19th Century Flashcards
What were the weaknesses of the Ottoman Empire?
The sultans were weak due to an unclear line of succession, the janissaries prevented modernization, religious leaders had a lot of influence, it was too large and decentralized, and other European powers were interested in its territories.
What happened when the foreigners came into the Ottoman Empire?
The foreigners came in and allowed the Ottoman Empire to stay alive, but only because the outsiders sold their manufactured goods to the Ottomans, had tax exemptions, and were granted territoriality (cannot be arrested under Ottoman law).
Who were the reformers who attempted reform?
Selim III (1789-1807), Mahmud II (1807-1839), and the Tanzimat Reforms.
What did Selim III do?
He wanted to modernize the military but failed and was assassinated by the janissaries.
What did Mahmud II do?
Increased postal service, infrastructure to connect empire (ie roads), government charity welfare system (to take away power from the religious leaders) and got rid of janissaries in the Auspicious Incident.
What were the Tanzimat Reforms?
It was the period of greatest reform, secular schools were created and even women could attend school. The Ottoman Reform Act of 1856 declared all men equal in opportunity (enlightenment idea), based on merit and treated equally under the law.
Who resisted the reforms?
The Janissaries, the Ayan (wealthy landowners), and the Ulama (religious leaders).
How were the reforms ended?
Abdul Hamid initially said he would continue the reforms, but he suspended the constitution from pressure –> old ways reintroduced. However, the Young Turks forced the successor to continue reforms.
What did Egypt have the was valuable to foreigners?
They had the Sinai Peninsula which allowed a much faster route to Asia.
Who tried to invade Egypt?
Napoleon, however he abandoned his troops because of the strength of the Egyptian army.
Who was Muhammad Ali?
The leader of Egypt for about 50 years. He modernized the military and developed the textile industry by expanding the growth of cotton.
What happened when he died?
His death led to decentralization.
Who were Khedives
Local leaders who were corrupt and weak. They sold the Sinai Peninsula to a private trading company.
What did this lead to?
it lead to the Egyptians forced to sell the rights of the peninsula to the British government and it was made into the Suez Canal (most important waterway in the world).
Who was Norachi?
Leader of the Manchurian tribes, asked by the Emperor of Ming China to help defend against foreign invasion, but Manchurian tribes take over.
what did the Manchurians establish themselves as?
The Qing Dynasty
Did the Manchurians assimilate?
Yes, in fact they admired Chinese culture and traditions, but were still resented by the Chinese. However, females were killed as infants.
Did the Manchurians assimilate?
Yes, in fact they admired Chinese culture and traditions, but were still resented by the Chinese. However, females were killed as infants.
What was the expansion of the Qing Dynasty like?
They expanded westwards and acquired tributary states.
How did they treat peasants?
They treated them well to balance out the gentry. They could inhabit land without having to pay taxes. Ultimately, the gentry gained control of that land.
How did the Qing Dynasty decline?
Rapid population growth due to new foods from the Colombian exchange (less resources for the population), resentment of Manchurian rulers (b/c they were outsiders), and corrupt officials.
What were the restrictions on foreign trading.
The Qing allowed and expanded foreign trade to show their generosity, however there were restrictions. Foreigners couldn’t leave their boats and could only go to one port. The Chinese only wanted gold and silver from the europeans.
What were the effects of the introduction of opium?
It shifts the balance of trade, as now the Chinese are giving back some of the gold they had received from trading. it is a very addictive drug that demobilized some of the population. It caused the Opium war.
How was the Opium war caused?
Lin Zexu tried to stop the trading of opium, but this only caused the europeans to become mad. The British invaded and China was forced to sign the treaty of Nanjing.
What was the treaty of Nanjing?
it granted the foreigners more ports, hong kong was made a european colony, opium legalized, and british were granted extraterritoriality.
What is extraterritoriality?
when a person cannot be tried under a certain countries law.
What was the Taiping rebellion?
Hong Jiquan wanted to get rid of the Qing dynasty (b/c they were letting foreigners in) and modernize china. the taiping rebels were defeated and 20 mil chinese were killed.
Who were given spheres of influence?
they were given to the foreigners - certain zones were given to the foreigners to rule under economic imperialism.
What was the self-strengthening movement?
the attempt at modernization - failed and defeated by traditionalists.
What was the Boxer Rebellion?
group of traditionalists used martial arts to attack foreigners. they seized embassies but were then defeated by the armies of the foreigners.
what was the feudal system like in japan
originally the emperor had no power and was just a figurehead
shogun became powerful daimyo
daimyo were always fighting for power and land
peasnts were indebted to the daimyo, they were the maj of population
what were the samurai like in the 19nth century
not being paid enough, became involved as merchants as well
what was the cause of the increase of literacy rates and secularism
increased literacy rates b/c they were more open to other ideas
there were more schools (dutch studies schools, terakkoya - confucian education, and shinto schools)
who was commodore perry
naval captain whose sips arrived in the harbor of edo to open japans borders. japan accepted because they didn’t want to become like china. they were forced to sign the treaty of kanagawa
what did the treaty of kanagawa entail
it opened up 2 port cities for the americans/europeans to trade to
americans/europeans were allowed to bring in missionaries
more rights are given over time
what was the meiji restoration
japan goes from a feudal society to a strong industrialized civilization.
what were the political changes
the emperor became supreme in japan
the shogun were neutralized
the daimyo were promised control of the new businesses, making them still powerful
samurai became military leaders
what was the degree of centralization in japan
emperor had absolute power
diet were created - Constitution created an elected legislature (didn’t really check the power)
prefectures divded japan that helped kept it centralized and under one uniform law and rule
what were the changes in the military
a modern military was built (was advised by other countries)
what was the saigo rebellion
they rebelled against modernization, put down easily
what were the economic changes
national tax created (All businesses and individuals were taxed on their wealth/income - supports centralization)
they rapidly industrialized +built infrastructure and brought in experts from other countries
govenrment started buisnesses and handed control over them to the daimyo
what were the new class of daimyo called
zaibatsu
what were the social changes
all males equal under the law
merit based society
they managed westernization (didn’t let it take over completely)
why did japan change
they allowed ideas from other cultures
they weren’t as ethnocentric as china and didn’t want to be like them (torn apart by the west)
what were the reasons for japanese imperialism
they needed resources to supply factories and population was growing so they needed new land to stay on
what was the cause of the sino-japanese war
real reason - That japan wanted to get a hold on territory on mainland asia to control resources
but they said it was because they wanted to free korea from abusive chinese rule (the japanese treated them much worse)
what was the result of the sino-japanese war
the japanese won b/c of their military
korea got independence
taiwan was given to japan
japan wanted the liaodong peninsula, but they had to give it back bc russia was afraid the japanese would interfere with russia - they euroepan powers sided with russia and japan backed off
what other advances did japan make
they built up their military more and made the other european powers neutral
what was the cause of the russo japanese war
Japanese felt that the russians were being racist towards them b/c they denied them a sphere of influence
what was the result
japan easily defeated russia due to their military
russia gave them concessions and this gave hope to non-european colonies and people that they can rise up and defeat european powers
what was the background of russia
it was very vast, rich in resources
had a lot of nationalities in russia - led to repression
orthodox church was very powerful so leaders had to be controlled
czar was autocratic
mongol influence made them backwards
feudalism was still alive
who were boyars
wealthy land owners, most of the people are serfs
what did peter the great want to do
tried to increase the power of the czar and modernize
what were the threats to power
boyars - had a lot of power
the church - religious leaders had a lot of influence
national minorites wanted to form new nations
what did peter the great do
he realized russia needed to modernize and get rid of mongol traditions
he began czar by staging a coup (background)
he created a military with merit based as ranks
what did this military do
it is needed to expand ti get a warm water port and to sue against the people
what does he do to the church
he takes it over and controls the officials in the church
what else did he do to modernize
wanted to bring in european culture
moved the capital city to st. petersburg
mongol traditions replaced
expanded russia, but didn’t gain a warm weather port
who was catherine the great
czar of russia, was an enlightened despot
who was alexander I
he was a liberal czar, freedom of the press, improved lives of serfs
thought abt having a limited monarchy
what was the napoleonic invasion
frnace invaded bc russia denied the continental system
reforms were pushed aside after the war
what was the holy alliance
was created by using christianity to bond european powers to defend against the ottoman empire
how did nicholas I become czar
his brother stepped down bc he married a polish catholic woman
he was ambitious but conservative
what was the decembrist revolt
liberal group of military officers, thye led a rebellion bc they thought they forced konstantine out
they were defeated
what was the split in the societies
formed the northern society and southern society
northern - wanted limited monarchy
southern - radical and wanted a republic
Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationalism
absolute rule, orthodoxy tied Nicholas I closer to the church, and nationalism forced national minorities to take on russian culture
why did feudalism strengthen
due to alliances made with boyars that removes the freedoms of the serfs that tied them to the land again
what was the cause of the Crimean war
Crimea was originally part of the ottoman empire
He claimed that the orthodox christians under ottoman rule were being abused, he wanted to protect them
Russia wanted a warm weather port
what happens during the war
russia was winning in the beginning, but great britain and france enter the war against russia because they didn’t want russia to gain access to the med sea and become a competitor
what was the result
russia loses the war and realizes they need to industrialize
what did alexander II do
emanipation proclamation - freed the serfs ( was a big deal)
why did he do this
alexander II knew he needed industrialization
wanted the serfs to move to cities
what was the program set up by the government
Government would buy land for boyars to give to serfs, gentle terms for the serfs
Serfs had to pay redemption to the government over 50 years.
what were the results of this
Boyars accepted this because they were being compensated for it
Poorest quality of land given to serfs, not productive
Serfs couldn’t pay back the government
mirs were created
what were mirs
collective farmers created by serfs - no private property but more productive
what effect did the start of industrialization have
serfs became factory workers
workers were exploited due to no restrictions put in place by the government
what were zemstovs
locally elected council, was a reform that decided decisions for a certain area
what was the opposition to this
slavophiles - conservatives, thought reforms were runing slav culture
liberals - they wanted a limited monarchy, but czar said no
marxists - more radical , wanted no private property
what happened to alexander II
assassinated
what did alexander III do
reversion - reversed reforms, took away rights, russificiation, and continued industrialization (iron)
