1. Question: In what ways did the Industrial Revolution shape the character if the 19th century European imperialism?
Notes:
Industrial Revolution created new materials and products
Wheat, meat, bananas, rubber, cocoa, palm oil, tea, gold and diamonds
The demand for these products changed economic and social patterns of the world
Europe was producing more then they could sell to their own people
Wealthy European’s saw benefits from foreign markets
Imperialism solved class conflict with out revolution
Was pleasing to everyone (economically and socially)
Answer: The Industrial Revolution produced so many global products and Europe had easy access to all of it. The demand of these products changed the economic and social patterns of the world, so imperialism was an easy solution to all class conflicts without having a revolution and was pleasing to everyone.
2. Question: What contributed to changing European views of Asians and Africans in the 19th century
Notes:
During the industrial era they created a level of arrogance
A society of wealth and military power
They judged themselves and the rest of the world
Saw the Asians as weak, cunning and conservative
Saw Africans as “primitive”
Europeans became racist
Science claimed that they carried certain diseases and were not as advanced
Answer: The increase in science and the Europeans level of arrogance contributed to the Europeans change of views of the Asians and Africans.
3. Question: What accounts for the massive peasant rebellions of 19th century China?
Notes:
Agriculture was not able to keep up with the growing population
Growing pressure on small peasant farms whish led to unemployment and misery
China was not able to function (tax collection, flood control, public security)
Small rebel gangs started to form in the countryside
Taiping uprising ditched all former religions and went for a new form of Christianity
Wanted equality and land