Japan's Meiji Transformation

Paper Summary:

This paper focuses on the industrial revolution of Britain. It then concentrates on the development of Japan, particularly its industrial development, that took place during the Meiji period. It discusses, in less detail, some of the many other changes that also took place during this time. The paper concludes that it is difficult to compare the revolutions in Britain and Japan due to the vast differences between the situations of each country at the time.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis
The Changes During the Industrial Revolution and the Meiji
Mechanization in Britain and Modernization in Japan
Organization and Nature and People
The Era of Industrial Revolution
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Comparatively, the Meiji revolution was only the beginning of industrialization in Japan. The main objective was not industrialization but a change of society and a national effort to catch up with the European powers. It was also an attempt to reform society so that wishes of the people could be accepted more and the state was not ruled by the desires of only a group of people. The great success of the Meiji was in the establishment of education, legal system, property rights, commerce and infrastructure. (Meiji Japan, 1868-1911: Government's Role in Economic Growth and Rise of Mitsui Zaibatsu) Thus the Meiji movement was probably an action in a much wider sphere than the Industrial Revolution. It is however difficult to say whether it was as great a success in terms of achievement as the Industrial Revolution. Whether the nature of Japan changed can only be discussed with the discussion of the Second World War."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aliston, P. New Directions in the Study of Meiji Japan. Brill Academic Publishers. 1997.
• Avram Agov. Meiji Japan, 1868-1911: Government's Role in Economic Growth and Rise of Mitsui Zaibatsu. February, 2005. Retrieved from http://mediatimesreview.com/february05/meiji.php Accessed 24 March, 2006
• Britain and Japan: Two roads to higher education. Retrieved from http://www.uefap.com/reading/exercise/texts/britjap.htm Accessed 24 March, 2006
• Flath, David. The Japanese Economy. Oxford University Press. 2000.
• Industrial Revolution. Encyclopedia Article. Retrieved from http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761577952/Industrial_Revolution.html Accessed 25 March, 2006

More papers on Japan's Meiji Transformation:

• Analytical Essay # 141679 : "The Meiji Restoration: The Creation of a Nation State"
• Term Paper # 135786 : "The Meiji Ishin Revolution"
• Analytical Essay # 135871 : "Japanese Women in the Meiji and Taisho Periods"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: