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Korean Recovery from Invasions
Korea is currently building infrastructure after Manchu invaders attempted to cripple the Joseon dynasty. Unlike previous invasions, this does not destroy the dynasty, survivng until the early 1900's. Bibliography: Kyujanggak. 2014. [image online] Available at: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Korean_map-Joseon_Dynasty-Gyeongju_dohoe-Jwatongjido-01.jpg [Accesse
Koreans work tirelessly to recreate texts destroyed in the raids -- which is significantly easier due to the creation of Hangeul -
Opium Introduced as a Drug in China
English traders refine poppies that they get from China into Opium and begin to introduce it to Chinese citizens (much to the government's disdain) The use of opium grew substatially for the next sixty years until the Machu emperriors outlawed the creation and trade of Opium in hopes to wene the population off of it. Bibliography: Hamidi, M. 2007. [image online] Available at: http://www.theorbittimes.com/Afghan_Poppy.php [Accessed: 28 Feb 2014]. -
Kyusik Library Created
Since the creation of Hangeul three-hundred years prior, the Koreans have been busily translating important documents. This library is the first one created since the creation of the Joseon dynasty that has nothing but purely Korean documents, written by Koreans, in Korean. Fancy smancy time for scholars. -
The Opium War
The Opium War After a huuuuge portion of the Chinese population got addicted to Opium the government was worried about the balance of trade and ethics, banning the trade from the British and pulling their own teaparty esque activity. This war went on for several years after China threatened to cut off trade with the British and they lost horribly turning one Canton port into five and losing Hong Kong for 113 years. -
Treaty of Kanagawa
Japan "makes" a treaty with the United States, or rather is pretty much forced into it. The treaty grossly favors the US and the nationalists are not happy at all. Unlike China, however, they are pretty organized about shifted political control and devotion to emperior Meiji, who was able to hold his ground against the Westerners, sternly placing limitations on Western influence and difusion Bibliography: Foreign Ministry Archives. 2009. [image online] Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/ -
Meiji Restoration
Emperior Meiji decides to borrow the Western advancements such as railroads and steam engines but to reject idealogies and theologies. Traditional Japanese culture takes a hit because of this, getting rid of the Shogunate and Samurai classes as well as putting limitations on the Geisha profession -
Korea Declares Independence from China
Since China's weakened by theological and ethnic divide and general social disrest the Joseon dynasty declares independence--however, nobody really looks at Korea as their own nation until after the Korean war. Lame. Bibliography: Korea Bridge. 2009. [image online] Available at: http://koreabridge.net/sites/default/files/images/20111028_southkorea_0995_lr1_ps1.preview.jpg [Accessed: 28 Feb 2014]. -
Treaty of Kanghwa
The same year Korea declares independence from China, Japan sweeps in to take it over. They enjoy their roughly eight months of freedom before once again being colonized by a foreign power. The revolt that precedes this treaty is violent and stamped out easily, feeding the later bad blood seen between Korea and Japan. -
Sino-Japanese War
China, weakened by internal conflict, cannot fight the Japanese well enough and are forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki which signed over the rights to Taiwan for trading and manufacturing rights. -
Russo-Japanese War
Japan, after claiming several other territories in the Asian Pacific like Taiwan and imposing influence on Hong Kong (and infringing on Korea for like, the 21897839th time) they moved to Manchuria and kicked the Russians out with highy efficient tactics as a testiment of Japanese Imperialism.
