How History Affected Japan's History

China and Japan are two of the most developed and important countries in the industry whose products are seen everywhere. But what has led these countries to the point that they are right now? A question that can make you think and wonder for hours. History composes an important part of these countries, and when we look back at the history of China and Japan, any small changes in past historical events could have led these countries to a much different place than they are now. The Opium war, self-strengthening movement, Qiu Jin, the Meiji Restoration and its social and economic changes, and Tokugawa Ieyasu are the most important and influential parts of the history of China and Japan. These people and these events had a huge impact on China and Japan’s history and affected these countries in different ways.
The Opium War: …show more content…
The Opium War is an important event in China’s history because of several reasons. China’s failure in the war showed that China could not defend itself, and other countries started taking advantage of their weakness. It also led to weakening of China’s dynasty and rebellions, and the killing of many people. Another importance of the Opium War is that “The Opium War had also unleashed a new way for the Chinese to define themselves” (Huang, week 2 lecture, p. 6). The Opium War encouraged nationalism amongst the Chinese and made them act as a nation rather than individuals who belong to different