Chapter 19 (pp. 931-957) & Documents

China was a victim of its own earlier success. Chinas famed centralization and bureaucratic state did not enlarge itself to keep pace with the growing population. The state was unable to effectively perform its many functions. 

European military pressure and economic penetration during the first half of the nineteenth century disrupted international trade route. Beginning of the late eighteenth century, rebellions drew on a variety of peasants grievances and found leadership in charismatic figures. The cumulation of China's internal crisis lay in the Taiping Uprising which set much of the country aflame. 

Among the most revolutionary dimensions of Taiping Uprising was its posture toward women and gender roles. Taiping officials ordered that  the feet of other women be unbound. Their land reform program promised women and men equal shares of land. 

Chinese authorities were not passive in the face of their country's mounting crises. A few industrial factories producing textiles and steel were established coal were expanded, and a telegraph system was initiated. 

In 1750 the Ottoman Empire was still the central political fixture of a widespread Islamic world. The Ottoman Empires own domains shrank consider ability at the hands of Russian, British, Austrian, and French aggression. When the French left, a virtually independent Egypt pursued a modernization and empire building program. 

Japans modern transformation soon registered internationally. Not only did Japan escape from the semi colonial entanglements with the West, but also launched its own empire building enterprise. Japans entry into the global  stage was felt in many places and added imperialist power. Those who directly experienced Japanese imperialism in Taiwan and Korea no doubt had a less positive view.