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Period: 1800 BCE to 1914 BCE
Africa
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Period: to
Asia
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The Rise of The Nguyen Dynasty
In 1802, the Nguyen Dynasty took control in Vietnam, bringing an end to 30 years of peasant uprisings and continuous civil war. This marked the first instance when a single Vietnamese monarchy governed the entire country. The dynasty established a centralized scholar bureaucracy, inspired by the Chinese model, to develop infrastructure like roads, bridges, and irrigation canals. However, a consequence of this was the resurgence of discontent among peasants in the country. -
The Decline of The Atlantic Slave Trade
As machines replaced slaves in industries, the Atlantic slave trade started to decrease and became unprofitable in the 1800s. In response, Great Britain and the United States passed laws in 1807 and 1808, respectively, to permanently ban the Atlantic slave trade. Even though the trade persisted illegally, it eventually came to a definitive end in 1873. -
The Java War
In 1799, the Dutch government took control of the Dutch East India Company, leading to a war. The government aimed to transform Java, but this sparked a rebellion known as the Java War from 1825 to 1830, lasting five years. The Dutch eventually won, imposing exploitative policies after the war. -
Arrival of Missionaries in India
Missionaries introduced Western-style schools in India, with 790,000 Indians attending 24,000 such schools. This led to the emergence of a new elite influenced by Western ideas and culture. The well-educated, English-speaking Indian elite, along with a modern bureaucracy, was established, laying the foundation for a unified and powerful state in the future, thanks to the British initiatives. -
Opium War
The Opium War occurred because the British exploited China's desire for opium, causing tension. The British, dissatisfied with Chinese restrictions, sent a military force to Chinese ports, leading to the Opium War from 1839 to 1842, lasting three years. It ended with the Treaty of Nanjing, where China was defeated. The treaty involved opening five international ports, setting a fixed 5% tariff on goods, and more. -
The Australian Colonies Government Act
"Australia achieved independence from Britain through several stages. In 1850, the British Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Government Act, granting the four most populous colonies the power to establish legislatures, determine the franchise, and frame their own constitutions. Australia then granted women the right to vote in elections in 1902 and the subsequent years, making it one of the first countries globally to give women voting rights." -
The Taipei Rebllion
One of the deadliest wars in history happened due to overpopulation in China. It resulted from economic and demographic struggles after the Opium War. The Taiping Rebellion, led by Hong Xiuquan and fueled by his religious teachings, lasted from 1851 to 1864 for 13 years, with a death toll of 20 million. -
The Introduction of Japan
In 1853, the United States forcefully opened Japan's borders to increase its influence in the Pacific. Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Edo Bay, demanding talks with Japan. Faced with the threat of military action, Japan reluctantly agreed, leading to a treaty signed with the United States by Japanese officials. -
The British Empire Establishes The Control in India
The British first established control of India with the British East India Company company at the heels of the Portuguese in the 17th century outmaneuvering French and Dutch rivals in the process. The company picked up the pieces of the Mughal Empires decaying rule of India, ruling over the majority of India under the guise of the British Empire. Later on, the British replaced the company and instituted a British rule instead. The British, now ruling India would do so till several decades later. -
The Great Revolt
The biggest and final rebellion by Sepoys occurred during British rule in India. It was triggered by British actions, including the use of animal fat, high taxes, and the enlistment of low-caste soldiers. The revolt quickly spread in northern and central India but was eventually crushed by loyal British troops. This event led to a stricter British rule in India for many decades. -
The Self-Strengthening Movement
After quelling various rebellions, forward-thinking reforms were introduced in response to the Western threat. Embracing the motto of "self-strengthening," efforts were made to modernize the military in Western ways. Progressive reformists, particularly in the 1870s-1880s, initiated new industries such as railways, steam navigation companies, coal mines, and more. -
The Meiji Restoration
Reform-minded daimyo formed a coalition to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate through a coup. In a historic move, samurai led the coup, declaring a return to direct rule by the emperor after 600 years. The successful coup resulted in Emperor Meiji ruling all of Japan, marking a significant turning point in Japanese history. -
The Meiji Oligraches, Rise in Power
Reform-minded daimyo led a successful coup ousting the Tokugawa Shogunate, restoring direct rule by Emperor Meiji after 600 years. This marked a crucial turning point in Japanese history. -
The Great Depression
In 1873, a global stock market crash occurred due to intense competition among world powers and industrialized countries. This led to a prolonged economic recession, prompting a shift away from the longstanding laissez-faire policy. As a response to the Long Depression, Europe and the United States raised tariff barriers. -
The Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was a gathering of global powers, excluding Africans, where they agreed on the principle of "effective occupation" to claim territory. Countries could control African land by making treaties with local leaders. This triggered the Scramble for Africa, a 15-year period of intense competition for African territories. This event also aligned with the rise of Germany as a world power. -
The Scramble for Africa
"The Scramble for Africa was when seven major Western European powers, like Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, colonized almost all of Africa. European control went from 10% to nearly 90% by 1914. Ethiopia and Liberia were the only two African countries that remained independent after this period." -
The Formation of the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress was formed by educated Indians seeking equality and self-governance. The party advocated for Indian opportunities and reforms similar to those given to white settlers. It also promoted unity across religious lines, although most members were upper-caste, Western-educated Hindus, which some found ironic. -
Introduction of Rubber
John Dunlop's invention of the inflatable rubber tire in the 1890s increased the demand for rubber. This demand was met through King Leopold II's brutal system in Congo, where entire villages were forced to mine rubber under the threat of death from Belgian overseers. This exploitation made King Leopold a symbol of the rubber industry. -
The Extraction of Ivory in The Congo
King Leopold ordered the extraction of ivory in the Congo by killing elephants. Their tusks were sold to various countries, especially the Americas. This continued until nearly all elephants in the Congo were wiped out, causing the ivory trade to stop. The environmental impact persisted for decades. -
The Introduction of The White Man's Burden
The White Man's Burden was a belief in the imperialistic era that aimed to civilize non-white people. It suggested that non-whites would benefit from modern advancements and improved living standards in their own countries. Advertisements promoted this idea, and it was widely shared among white people of that time. -
The US Implementation of Control Over The Philippines
In 1898, the United State took control of the Philippines from Spain after winning the Spanish-American War. This move marked the U.S. as an imperial power in Asia. The United States supported the Philippines, bringing reforms to education and language during its rule. -
The Spanish v.s. The American War
The war between Spain and the United States from 1898 to 1902 changed the world powers. In the Philippines, American commodore George Dewey sank the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, helping Filipino rebels. This led to the Philippines declaring independence as the war's end result. -
The Russia v.s. The Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905 was fought between Russia and Japan over influence and territory in northeast China. Japan's assertiveness clashed with leading European powers, leading to the conflict. Japan attacked and won, changing European countries' views of Japan forever. The war lasted only one year. -
The 1911 Revolution
Chinese studying abroad, influenced by Western political ideas, including Sun Yatsen, sparked the 1911 revolution. This ended centuries of monarchy, establishing a Western-style republic. While China escaped foreign rule, the revolution transformed the country forever.