Imperialism

EASSY --- IMPERIALISM
Imperialism, as defined by the creation and or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire. The Age of Imperialism was a time period beginning around 1870 when modern, relatively developed nations were taking over less developed areas, colonizing them, or influencing them in order to expand their own power. Although imperialist practices have existed for thousands of years, the term "Age of Imperialism" generally refers to the activities of nations such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and in the early 18th through the middle 20th centuries Imperialism has been found in the histories of Japan, the Chinese Empire, the Roman Empire, Greece, the Byzantine Empire, the Persian Empire, ancient Egypt, and India.
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence by utilizing diplomacy or military force. Imperialism creates military problems and caused many political problems, it also cause social problems because of forced influence into a country. Countries becomes imperialistic used it for raw goods, cheap labor, and a market to sell their own products,and also for land, to make their country more vast and also for some precious things. They also do to expand their power.
Japan is one of them who had a military history. The military was always considered an honorable profession. After the restoration of Imperial power, people transferred their loyalty to the emperor. Japan had a growing population in a small country with few natural resources. Japan saw countries like France, Britain, Holland, Germany, the United States acquiring colonies. These colonies supplied the colonial powers with raw materials such as oil, coal, iron, rubber, etc. Also these same nations could market the finished products in the lands that they occupied. So Japan wanted to do the same. When Japan saw other lands like Taiwan, Korea and Manchuria as being ripe for exploitation. Japan saw the European nations opening up "treaty ports" in China and wanted to do the same. Japan had a skilled labor force, a tradition of the sea, and a powerful military tradition.
Imperialism is never considered as a good cause and effect. At first when it occurs it may seem as a positive effect, but in the long run, for example in this case it was a negative effect. In their point of view they thought they were helping people but really all they were doing was hurting the smaller colonies. the varied changes in Japanese society, economy, and politics, including the introduction of Western values of civilization and enlightenment, industrialization, abolition of feudalism and establishment of a centralized, constitutional government. Like European countries, many in the Japanese government turned expansion into a systematic goal, for security, national pride, resources for industrialization, settlement of overpopulation, and markets for manufactured goods.
BY
GOHAR RASHID