1. Russia and Japan Political Military Cultural Social Economic Lauren Fan Calvin Lowe Aldin Dallos Andrew Pae Sam Wagner

2. Russian Politics From 1500 to 1750, Russia expanded to become an empire stretching Europe to Asia. Russian orthodox Christianity played a role in politics. Peter the Great expanded and consolidated the empire. Catherine the Great acquired more land and successfully fought the Ottoman Empire

3. Japanese Politics The Tokugawa Shogunate took over Japan in 1543 and lasted until 1800. The Tokugawa invaded Korea in 1592, but pulled out after 1616. The Tokugawa closed down contact with Europe starting in 1633. The Government held a Confucian philosophy.

4. Military Militaries in Japan and Russia underwent more innovative changes than China, in part through W Contacts ◦ Japan- gunpowder revolution ◦ Russia- greater progress in keeping up with Eur. Tech Russia developed navy more than Japan, though Japan was able to defend itself

5. Russian-Japanese Culture Japan more culturally homogeneous ◦ Suppressed increasingly influential Christian ideas and curtailed commercial/intellectual contacts with Europe by closing the country ◦ Even small state could easily control dealings with others Russia incorporated diverse peoples ◦ Cautious tolerance, encouraged cultural assimilation (Peter the Great, westernization of elites, St Petersburg, promoted Russian language) ◦ Church hostile towards Catholics and Protestants to the W, banned Jesuits

6. Russian Social/Gender When the empire expanded they gained people with different cultures, language, religious beliefs, and ethnic identities. The orthodox tried to convert the Siberia into Christians. Most of the Russians worked as farmers, hunters, builders, scribes, or merchants, while in the empire they were herders, caravan workers, and soldiers. In the Russian hierarchy came the Cossacks which means warrior or “mercenary soldiers” in Turkish. The laws change transformed the peasants into serfs. Like slavery serfdom came from a hereditary status.

7. Japanese Social/Gender In the late 1500s the Shogunate lost control and fell into a chaotic war Jesuits came to Japan and tried to convert the regional lords The elite declined and the social structure began to have a problem.

8. Russian-Japanese Social Comparison Japanese emperor in Kyoto had no significant power, in reality the daimyos (regional warlords) held power. Similarly in Russia, power was decentralized due to the difficulty of controlling far-fetched territories and check of bureaucracies. Coassacks maintained autonomy. In theory, these governments were autocratic, but in reality they were not. Merchants in Japan more uncertain positions (Confucian ideals). Social system in Russia oppressive and hierarchical

9. Russian Economics Fur trading and forest products Merchants from western Europe bought furs and provided tsars with revenues and access to European technology Rising commercialization of agriculture raised the value of labor obligations. Built canal system to improve trade Became major exporters of gold, iron, timber

10. Japanese Economics Good roads and marine transport linked cities of Japan; commercial traffic developed. High achievement in artisanship, steel making, pottery, lacquer ware, production/ decoration of porcelain. The Japanese welcomed new trade with merchants from distant Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and England. Merchant families held the key to future modernization and development of heavy industry.

11. Russian-Japanese Economics Comparison Both traded with the European countries. Both advanced in commerce. Japan advanced more in industrialization. Japanese trade overseas was not expanded much and was discouraged by the government, while Russia and Europe developed maritime trading routes as well as massive fleets for military.

12. More Comparisons Religious tensions in both Japan and Russia, involving Christianity and their own ideals (presence of ethnocentricity- they thought their own ideas were better) In theory autocratic govts, but in practice less control. Labor systems involved peoples bound to land or master (Japan- daimyo, Russia- serfdom)

13. More Differences Japan and Russia both favored their own ideas, but Russia was more tolerant of Western ideas than Japan Russia expanded eastward, Japan did not further colonize or expand Europe more eager to trade than East Asia.

14. Works Cited http://images.schoolinsites.com/SiSFiles/Schools/TX/CedarHill/CedarHillHigh/Uploads/F orms/ch%2022.pdf