Chapter 19

Chapter 19 is where Strayer covers the collision of the European, Middle Eastern, and East Asian empires between 1800 and 1914. China suffered internal troubles, as they struggled to produce enough resources for their rapidly growing population. There was a rise in bandits and even a peasant rebellion in response to the declining Qing dynasty. This brought about the uprising of the Taiping dynasty. The Taiping people were noticeably more progressive in their attitudes toward women. They felt women should be less restricted and more equal. The Taiping were too unorganized and indecisive among themselves in their efforts to conquer, so the Qing dynasty ultimately prevailed. I really wonder how different China would be if the Taiping dynasty would have successfully arisen, especially their attitude towards women. If they had taken on a more equal perspective of gender roles, I wonder if the rest of the world would have been somehow changed or influenced to also attain a similar view on women. Maybe if that had happened women’s equality would be more prevalent today, though it is much better today. Elsewhere, the Ottoman empire began to struggle within Europe. The Ottoman empire was failing to maintain Islamic land against the incoming Christian powers. Apparently the larger, Christian portion of Europe came to know the Ottoman empire as the “sick man” of Europe. That makes me so sad. I feel like even today Islamic people are misportrayed as being evil or inferior. People actually assume people of the Muslim faith today are all supporters of terrorism. I know Islamic people personally and it makes me mad they have to deal with peoples’ stigma that apparently has been around for hundreds of years. I do not understand the white man’s need to convert everyone to Christianity throughout history. All religions are reflective of people’s cultures and values. Everyone deserves the right to express their beliefs and I wish other religions were more respected by white America throughout history all the way up until today. These were some points of the chapter that really resonated with me.