History & Imperialism in South,
Southeast, and East Asia
What is imperialism?
• a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining
control over other areas of the world
What was the main imperialistic power in
South Asia?
India
• Main imperial power in South Asia = Britain
• Mahatma Gandhi – famous for protesting for Indian independence. Believed
in non-violence. Staged peaceful protests and fasted as a form of protest.
• 1947 – Indian Independence
• Spilt into two countries:
• Majority Hindu = India
• Majority Muslim = Pakistan
• Disputed region = Kashmir
China
• China had been ruled by dynasties
• Dynasty = A family of rulers who rule over the same country for a
long period of time
China
• Europeans wanted many of the goods that China exported (like silk,
tea, and porcelain), but China didn’t want any of Europe’s goods and
wanted to avoid European interference so China limits trade
• British begin illegally bringing in Opium from Afghanistan region in
order to trade for goods they want – leads to the Opium Wars (18391842 and 1856-1860)
• China lost the Opium Wars.
Results:
• China hands over Hong Kong with the Macau port to British who will
control the city until 1997
• Must open up their ports to more European trade = Sphere of Influence –
an area over which a country has exclusive trading rights.
• Weakened power of Chinese dynasties and will eventually lead to the
communist takeover of China
China
• Dynastic rule ends in 1911
• Civil war until 1949 when Mao Zedong declares China a communist
country.
What is the only Asian country to be an
imperialistic power in the region?
Japan
• Japan is called “The Land of the Rising Sun”
• Japan is the only nation that is not colonized or divided into spheres of
influence in the region AND Japan is the only Asian country to be an
imperialistic power themselves. WHY?
• Japan starts to modernize in the mid 1800s after the US forces them to start trading with
Western countries. Japan realizes they need to modernize in order to be able to protect
themselves.
• Japan had limited natural resources so in order to get stronger, they start imperialistic
conquests of their own.
Japan’s Empire 1931
Nanking Massacre
1937 - soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army murdered an estimated 40,000 to
over 300,000 Chinese and perpetrated widespread rape and looting
US imperialism in Asia
• What is the main country that the US will colonize in 1898?
• The Philippines!
• From which country did the US gain The Philippines?
• Spain
• Full independence comes in 1946
US Involvement
Korea and Vietnam
Which imperial power took over Korea?
Korean War
• Japan (The Axis Powers) lost WWII. Korea has been a colony
of Japan so at the end of the war it was divided between
the US and USSR.
• North = USSR controlled / Communist
• South = US controlled / Democratic
• US and USSR withdrew in 1949
• 1950 North Korea invades South Korea
• United Nations votes to protect South Korea. China gets
involved b/c felt threatened
• Three years of fighting – stalemate (a tie)
• Keep Korea divided at the 38th parallel
Demilitarized Zone
• The area dividing North and
South Korea at the 38th
Parallel
• Heavily fortified on both
sides
Who colonized Vietnam?
Vietnam War 1955-1975
• After WWII, Communists and Nationalists revolt against French rule.
• French eventually withdraw and the country is divided into North
Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (democratic)
• North Vietnam invades South Vietnam and the US tries to stop this
• Stalemate and US withdraws in 1975. Communists take over and
unite the whole country