The Samurai's Ascent: Japan's Transformation from Feudal Isolation to Global Power, 1850–1935
The Samurai's Ascent: Japan's Transformation from Feudal Isolation to Global Power, 1850–1935 Between 1850 and 1935, Japan engineered an extraordinary transformation, evolving from a feudal, isolated nation into a global imperial power without the colonial resource wealth of Britain or France. Commodore Perry’s 1853 arrival shattered sakoku, catalyzing the 1868 Meiji Restoration, which centralized governance and launched sweeping reforms. Universal education achieved 98% literacy by 1910, while state-driven industrialization doubled GDP per capita by 1913. Social restructuring abolished samurai privileges, fostering mobility, and welfare measures like the 1911 Factory Act stabilized labor. Military triumphs in the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) secured Taiwan and Korea, with the 1931 Manchurian Incident expanding influence. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902) and diplomatic agility ended unequal treaties. Japan’s ascent, blending cultural ...