Changes And Continuities Of Political Revolutions Between 1750 And 1900

Between 1750 and 1900, revolutions transpired around the globe, fueled by the diffusion of ideas from forward-thinking Enlightenment philosophers of the time. Not only did political revolutions take place, but a significant technological revolution, known as the Industrial Revolution, also occurred, increasing global connections and worldwide competition for materials, markets, and low-wage labor. Boosted by human capital, businesses, workplaces, and investments, industrialized countries, many of which were European, notably held the dominating economies of this time. These states’ militaries easily overpowered non-modernized territories and either forced or motivated these technologically-lacking countries to also industrialize. As Western

Shifting to the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, like China, had been declining politically, and seeking to fix this corrupt regime, Sultan Mahmud II established European-style ministries and increased the federal budget through government charities. Similar to Japan’s Charter Oath, which encouraged public discussions, the Ottomans’ Noble Edict of the Rose Chamber stressed the importance of provincial and communal councils as mediums for people to voice concerns and use their freedom to vote (Noble Edict of the Rose Chamber). Additionally, the Hatt-i Humayun of 1856 codified existing Ottoman laws, such as commercial codes, which enabled foreign businesspeople, especially Europeans, to conduct trade and diffuse Western ideas throughout the region. Ultimately, by pursuing legislation and diplomacy to stabilize or restructure government systems, China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire integrated modernization into their territories. Besides using legislation to execute modernization, the Chinese, Japanese, and Ottoman governments also focused on military

The empire also internally implemented banks and similar institutions to reform its financial system and create funds to augment current economic production (Noble Edict of the Rose Chamber). Ultimately, by making efforts to subsidize industrialization and economic production, the governments of China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire internally spread modernization throughout their regions. Despite already significant growth, the Chinese, Japanese, and Ottoman regimes created foundations for future progress through modernized education. Focusing on educational reform to blend the successes of both Chinese and Western ideas, China’s Empress Dowager Cixi not only supported STEM-based subjects, like math and astronomy, but also encouraged Chinese students to study abroad and gain a Western education that would prepare them for future modernization (Black and Reform Edict of the Qing Imperial Court). During the Meiji Restoration, Japan officials adopted reforms based on admired ideas they gained from Western experts and visits to industrialized