Berlin Conference 1884-1885

Europeans against the Muslim world

Imperialism against Muslim led empires

Declining EmpiresMany empires were in decline in the early 1800s, the Muslim led empires were no exception:

1) Mughals of India2) Ottomans of the mid-East3) Safavids of Iran

Ottoman’s DeclineThe ottoman empires was a controlled by power-hungry provincial rulers, which weakened the authority of the central government.

The vast empires was also composed of diverse ethnicities sparked nationalism which led to constant revolts

The capital city was Istanbul, but many still called it Constantinople. This is the time period when the

name change took place, remember that Byzantium= Constantinople=Istanbul

Depending who is ruling, names change

*Present day Turkey*

Armenian MassacreThe Ottoman empire allowed many minorities to live throughout the empire and practice their own faiths. As Turkish nationalism continued to grow in the 1890s, so did tensions with minority groups.

These tensions triggered a massacre of the Armenians, a Christian group concentrated in the mountains of the Ottoman Empire .

The Turks accused the Armenians of plotting with Russians against the Ottoman Empire.

Over one million were killed between the 1890s and 1910s

GenocideThe Armenian massacre is an act of genocide:

Deliberate attempt to destroy an entire religious or ethnic group

Genocide had occurred in many regions, in many time periods, including today:•Rwanda•Darfur (Sudan)•Bosnia•Congo•Uganda

IranSplit into two spheres of influence:

Russia in the NorthGreat Britain in the South

The Iranians were not pleased about this arrangement but had no way to force the foreign powers out.

In the early 1900s oil was discovered in Iran. The Russians immediately sent in troops to secure control over the oil fields.

The Iranian Religious leaders condemned the action of the western influences, saying it hurt the people.

British in India

Though the Mughals were in charge of India, the British began exerting control in the 1600s. The British started the British East India company to oversee their trading empire in India.

The main goal of the British was to make money, but they also had a positive side effect:

-built roads to improve transportation-built railroads to move goods and people faster-founded schools to promote western thought

Why would the schools in India be promoting western thought?

Why India?

Remember the three motives for imperialism:-Economic (hungry)-Political (King Kong)-Humanitarian

Which motive does this image demonstrate?

British MissionariesMissionaries tried to convert Indians away from their religions (___________) and ( ______________). -Wanted to end slavery and the caste system-Outlawed the sati- a suicide by a widow upon herhusbands death fire.

Missionaries spread Christianity and worked to ‘civilize’ the Indians.

Officially outlawed 1829Comprehending why a woman would choose to commit sati, however, requires the removal of our western lenses. The act of self-immolation of widows on their husband’s funeral pyre may be construed as a horrific act by the Westerner but in India cases of sati have been documented in their culture for hundreds of years (Oldenburg 1994: 165). More important, the symbolic significance of sati is intricately intertwined in the Hindu belief system.

Was it right for the British to outlaw Sati in 1829? Why or why not

RebellionMany areas of India resisted British Rule which required direct rule, with occupying forces of troops.

The British built long tracks of railroads so they could quickly move troops to trouble areas, and move goods from the interior to the coast for shipment.

Sepoy RebellionSepoy= Indian soldiers

In the 1950s the British took several unpopular steps:

- Sepoys could serve anywhere, domestically or abroad

- Widows can remarry

Sepoy RebellionThese measures don’t seem severe until you realize:

-High caste Hindus cannot travel overseas as a part of their belief system -Hinduism prohibits a woman to re-marry if her husband passes

The Indians see these changes as a way to force Christian and Western ideals onto the Hindus.

Final Insult- Sepoy RebellionIn 1857 the British East India Trading Company gave the Sepoy troops new guns. The new guns required a new type of ammunition cartridge. To load the gun, they had to bite off the tip of the cartridges. However, these cartridges were sealed with animal fat, either cow or pig. The problem?

Sacred to Hindus

Forbidden to Muslims

Rebellion 1857Angry Sepoys rebelled and marched to Delhi, where they called for support from fellow Indians, Muslims and Hindus;

“It is well known to all, that in this age the people of [India], both Hindus and Muslims, are being ruined under the tyranny and oppression of the infidel and treacherous English. It is therefore the duty of all the wealthy people of India… to stake their lives and property for the well being of the public.”

The Sepoys brutally murdered British men, women and children.

SuppressionThe British troops rallied and killed thousands of unarmed Indians.

a. Parliament abolished the East India Trading company and established direct rule.

b. More British troops occupied India

c. Taxes were raised to pay for occupation

FaminesThe British soon convinced the Indians to grow cash crops such as Cotton and Opium instead of food crops needed to feed the growing population. This led to a number of famines in the 1800s and 1900s.

Many Indians sank into poverty, with nearly 10 million perishing over the course of British rule.

**Warning: This next video is quite graphic**

The “Brightest Jewel”India was source of pride to British Imperialists. Rule under the British was a mixed

bad, with both positives and negatives

Positives Negatives-Updated law code-Telegraph and postal communication systems-Improved transportation with Roads and Railroads-Increased world trade

-British forced reforms despite offending religion and traditions-Viewed Indians as inferior to British-forced to grow cash crops reduced the food supply-exploited Indian labor and resources

China

In the 1700s China had strict trading limits with foreigners. European merchants were only allowed in South China.

The Chinese sold silk, tea and porcelain for gold and silver.

This led to a favorable balance of trade for the Chinese- they were exporting more than importing. Claimed they wanted nothing from the West.

It also led to a trade deficit for the Europeans who were importing more than exporting from China.

Opium

The British eventually discovered they could sell Indian grown Opium to the Chinese in exchange for tea and money, leading to huge profits.

Opium is made from the poppy plant, which grows abundantly in Europe. It is HIGHLY addictive.

The British had a strict ban on opium in England, but continued to export it to China. Right or wrong?

Opium Wars 1839-1842Eventually the Chinese used force, firing upon British Ships carrying Opium. However, the British had better weapons than the Chinese and soon defeated them.

In 1842 the Chinese were forced to sign the Nanjing treaty. The British gained:

-Money-Hong Kong-opened trading with the Chinese-Favored nation clause

Chinese Spheres of InfluenceThe Western powers viewed this defeat as a sign that China was weak, and they began carving out spheres of influence

Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864

By the early 1800s Chinese was riddled with corruption. Government officials abused their power, the rich avoided paying taxes, and the peasants were left to shoulder the economic burden.

The peasants revolted and were led by Hong Xiuquan, who encouraged morality, public ownership of land and an end to the Qing dynasty.

This became the most devastating revolt in history, and 20-30 million Chinese were killed.

Open Door Policy 1899The Americans did not join in the race for Spheres of Influence in China. Instead, they proposed an Open Door Policy. This policy would open trade in China to all.

This policy stated that all nations should have equal trading rights regardless of spheres of influence. While this may have prevented the further expansion of spheres of influences, it did little to restore Chinese sovereignty

Boxer Rebellion 1900Fed up with the foreign invaders, many Chinese nationalists fought back. They began the Boxer Rebellion to force out the Foreign Devils.

The Boxers attacked communities where Westerners lived and any Chinese who had converted to Christianity. The foreign countries recognized this as a threat and quickly crushed the rebellion.

China Evolves

After the Boxer Rebellions the Chinese finally accept the fact that they must modernize. The Empress Ci Xi died, finally giving reformers a chance to set up a republic. For the next 20 years China would fight its self to become a stabile, strong nations, without foreign control.

The Chinese set up a republic, but it struggled to stabilize the nation. Soon, a communist government is established and the Chinese continue to exist under a communist rule.

ReviewWhich statement best expresses the motive for 19th-century European imperialism?

1. Living space was needed for the excess population of Western Europe

2. European leaders believed imperialism was an effective method of reducing the number of wars

3. European nations would benefit from some aspects of the conquered nation’s culture

4. Imperialism would benefit the economies of the colonial powers

ReviewThe borders that were established for many African nations during the late 1800s were based primarily on

1. Natural geographic barriers2. Easy access to natural resources3. Territorial claims of colonial rulers4. Cultural differences between ethnic groups

ReviewIn 19th-century China, the Opium War resulted in

1. The control of Hong Kong being returned to China

2. The removal of all British naval forces from china

3. An increase in European spheres of influence in China

4. The rejection of Buddhism by the Chinese people

Review“Compared to other peoples of the world we have the greatest (largest) population and our civilization is four thousand years old…Today we are the poorest and weakest nation in the world and occupy the lowest position in international affairs. Other men are the carving knife and serving dish, we are the fish and the meat. As a consequence…we are being transformed everywhere into a colony of the foreign powers.”

Which events formed the basis for the ideas expressed in this early 1900’s passage?

1. Opium war and boxer Rebellion2. Mau Mau uprising and adoption of apartheid3. Sepoy mutiny and the slat march4. Haitian Revolution and Cortes’ march on Mexico City

ReviewDuring the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans improved roads and bridges and built railroads in their colonies primarily to

1. Provide jobs for all children2. obtain raw materials needed for

industrialization3. Impress the colonists with their technological

knowledge4. Help missionaries spread Christianity