1. 1840 - 1910

2.  Originally France interested in Egypt for strategic location (Red Sea), but Napoleon failed

3.  Egypt interested in modernizing like Europe, so figured they need to trade like Europe  1869 - Decided to build manmade waterway that cut through Suez, connecting Red Sea to Mediterranean  SUEZ CANAL

4.  Time Saved: 2 weeks  Miles Saved: 4,000

5.  Had to borrow $$ from France ($450 million!), but found they could not pay back the debt  Britain jumped on the chance to oversee financial control of the canal  by 1882 British occupied Egypt  Canal was “Lifeline of the British Empire” b/c allowed quicker access to its colonies in Asia and Africa

6.  China proud of their culture & many work opportunities  very self-sufficient  Not interested in gadgets West was offering; only in agriculture  did not want to trade w/ Europeans  But Europeans wanted access to Chinese goods & resources (especially tea)

7.  Britain determined to find something Chinese wanted to trade…OPIUM!  Habit-forming drug; Chinese doctors used it for pain relief for centuries  By 1835, 12 million Chinese addicted & rising  Qing Emperor asked Britain to stop, but refused  led to OPIUM WAR (1839-1842)  British victory, gained island of Hong Kong

9.  Results of Opium War: 1. China divided into spheres of influence 2. Increase in Western trade & influence in Asia 3. Britain gains island of Hong Kong 4. Taiping Rebellion  revolt of the people against the emperor

10.  Due to Opium addiction, China no longer productive & people hungry  Europeans taking advantage of China’s growing problems  Had to declare “Open Door Policy” to keep from being divided up & colonized like Africa

11.  Poor peasants/workers resented foreign influence  formed secret organization, Society of Harmonious Fists (aka Boxers)  Wanted to get rid of Qing Dynasty, started BOXER REBELLION  Rebellion failed, but nationalism rose; started to travel West to examine government structures

13.  1600s, Japan was isolated (“closed door”)  1853 - US Commodore Matthew Perry took ships/ weapons to Japan & demand they open trade  signed Treaty of Kanagawa & opened 2 ports to all  Japanese angry & overthrew Tokugawa Shogun

14.  New MEIJI ERA rules (“Enlightened”)  Figured if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em  adopted European modern ways  Knew wouldn’t be taken over now, so decided to become imperialists too  Established colonies in China  Now Japan & Russia major powers in Asia

15.  Both Russia & Japan want Manchuria for natural resources  RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (Japan victory)  Japan went after Korea & won  established a protectorate & annexation (direct rule)