The Industrial Revolution in Europe and America’s effects were felt throughout the world. This includes Muhammad Ali’s Egypt and Meiji Era Japan. Both of these countries felt a need to industrialize as well. There is no denying the prominent similarities in these industrializations, in the form of government and contact with the west. Although government promoted acts towards industrialization were alive in Egypt and Japan, and the revolutions included mild westernization, due to the fact that one man wanted industrialization versus an entire social upheaval and difference in motive promotes the idea they were actually very different.
During this time in history, Western ideas and technology were beginning to take over. However, different countries dealt with and adopted them in different ways and timing. Places such as the Ottoman Empire took their time embracing these ideas. This led to a weakening Empire. Egypt, technically ruled by the Ottomans, was gaining its own control in the form of a new
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In both cases, the government supported the new ideas, disregarding motive. Once Muhammad Ali had fought off the Ottomans, he pushed for new reforms in Egypt. In Japan, the Meiji State began creating reforms along with a high taxation. Both cases indicate government support of the changes. Another likeness present is in the reforms themselves. The adjustments made in both countries were mainly based of Western ideas. Muhammad Ali changed Egypt’s military, using the Europeans as prototypes. He also added schools, officers educated in Europe, and the first ever Islamic newspaper. The Japanese took to visiting Europe, then considering and adopting some of their reforms. Some examples of refinements they borrowed are abolishing feudalism, reorganizing the military based on the Prussians, equality before the law, creating school systems, and subsidizing industrialization for many