British Influence On East Asia

J. H. Boeke once noted that “East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet” (Ray: 449). Central Asia countries and regions have always sustained their tradition as well as believed their superiority over the West. However, the connection between Asia and the New World reemerged during the period between sixteenth and twentieth century. The advanced technology and military predominance of the Europeans had brought easier and broader trading routes of commodities that were not available in Asia before. Through advancement in transportation, communication and banking system, imperialism of the Europeans and the transformation of trading company to empire, it is clear that both the East and the West had influenced each other in

The imperial power of the British was, therefore, predominant in Southern Asia, in Europe, and across the Atlantic and Indian Ocean (Ludden:1). The British conquest of these regions led to the evolving and the opening of the modern living conditions, introducing new political regulation. For instance, the British East India Company (EIC) started their trading system in the 1600s. While the British was interested in the spice markets in Southeast Asia, the Dutch had already placed themselves in such trade. Therefore, the British turned their attention to India; EIC began to build small factories and bases on India’s eastern and western coasts where they closely encountered with Indian artisans and producers (Cawthorne). Not only the British but also other Westerners continued to seek for any profit - making opportunity in Asia which led to “an increased presence on the subcontinent” such as France (Cawthorne). As the patterns of trading transformed from landscape to maritime, the coastal lines of Asian country became vital factors for trade as well as the imperial expansion in Asia and Africa. Therefore, the British was in need to military support from British naval power and troops in India (Cawthorne). Such military power allowed the British to take control in local and foreign conflicts and to collect tax revenue. While East India Company simply began as to receive Asian commodities,

The improvements in technological, communication and banking system, the imperialism and the predominance of military force of the Europeans led to changes in the East and the West. While the connection between the East and the West hesitated after the Mongols lost its power, the Europeans were involved in advancing the Asian circulatory system and transformed into global trade system. Overall, the most important factor in these development and changes in Europe and Asia was the successful trade system that interconnected the two very different parts of the world in the most distinctive