Who could have foreseen that one person’s well-meaning act to save his nation could have caused rebellions and wars that would change our world so greatly? Commissioner Lin’s destruction of the British opium stash precipitated several power exchanges through wars, revolutions, and reform through adaptation and assimilation. As the Chinese fell after the Opium War, the Westerners rose to greatness by way of expanded territories, inflated economies, and strengthened armies. As dynasties were reduced to disjointed republics, Eastern Asian nations lost the unequivocal influence they had over their lands and Westerners assumed their political power in society.
In order to examine the extent of political change, it is important to first explain the degree of change experienced, then how far the change spread beyond East Asia. Since political power concerns the amount of influence on entity has over others, it can be measured in areas such as military force, economic strength, societal unity, and the ruling entity’s perceived image. The Opium Wars significantly impacted these four categories for the countries of East Asia, …show more content…
All of their attempts to reassert themselves were met with defeat as their authority were constantly undermined. Whether in conflict with the Westerners or neighboring Japan, China kept falling further and it proved to be a great humiliation. The country that perceived themselves as superior to all outsiders and invincible in battle was shown just how incapable they were. According to Confucian beliefs, these series of losses were disgraceful. Everything that made China a powerhouse was ripped away and the emasculating effects were felt countrywide. This humiliation completely degraded China’s strong image and shifted the power of perceived strength to the British as well as other western nations to
In order to examine the extent of political change, it is important to first explain the degree of change experienced, then how far the change spread beyond East Asia. Since political power concerns the amount of influence on entity has over others, it can be measured in areas such as military force, economic strength, societal unity, and the ruling entity’s perceived image. The Opium Wars significantly impacted these four categories for the countries of East Asia, …show more content…
All of their attempts to reassert themselves were met with defeat as their authority were constantly undermined. Whether in conflict with the Westerners or neighboring Japan, China kept falling further and it proved to be a great humiliation. The country that perceived themselves as superior to all outsiders and invincible in battle was shown just how incapable they were. According to Confucian beliefs, these series of losses were disgraceful. Everything that made China a powerhouse was ripped away and the emasculating effects were felt countrywide. This humiliation completely degraded China’s strong image and shifted the power of perceived strength to the British as well as other western nations to