2. The Asian Front: The Rise of Japan. The Demise of China.

From 1850 Japan emerged from centuries of near isolation to become a global power by 1914. Here I explore that journey. How the Russo-Japanese war of 1905 changed everything, not just for Japan, but the other Asian nations and their attitude to Western colonial powers.

At the same time, China, an ancient and dominant empire was being exploited by the west to gain trading favours and territorial rights. Their role in the war diminished by internal revolts and punitive foreign reparations and debt.