Important Questions: Paths to Modernization | History Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Why did the Chinese react slowly?
Ans: They found difficulties in redefining their traditions to cope with the modem world, in rebuilding its national strength, and in winning freedom from British and Japanese rule.

Q2: When did a more democratic political system begin in Japan?
Ans: It was just after the US occupation which enabled Japan to emerge as a major economic power by the decade of 1970.

Q3: Why did the Meiji Government in Japan appoint a bureau in 1869?
Ans: It was appointed for the collection of records and to write a victor version of the Meiji Restoration.

Q4: What kind of regional diversity in Chinese food is seen?
Ans: Chinese food is in variety. Generally, there are four types / of dishes:-

• Cantonese Cuisine,
• Staple food like wheat,
• Fiery Cuisine and
• Rice and wheat.

Q5: Who held the position of Shogun in Japan and when?
Ans: The members of the Tokugawa family held the position of Shogun (regent) from 1603 to 1867 in Japan.

Q6: What was the achievement of Japan by the mid-seventeenth century?
Ans: Japan had grown in the three most populated and vast cities viz. Edo (Presently Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto.

Q7: What does the Tale of Genji reveal?
Ans: It reveals that Japanese culture was more ancient or older than that of Chinese. It was a fictionalized diary written by Murasaki Shikibu.

Q8: Why would the USA have seen Japan as a major market?
Ans: It was because Japan fell on the route to China.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q9: Do you think modernization can be brought in personality, in ways of thinking, in appearance, in behavioral pattern, etc. merely by direct copying siblings, great men, etc? Discuss.
Ans: When we see, children taught by a single teacher, appear with different portfolios in their youth, any society maker should not think that his speech/action and temperament is equally accepted by all the populace amid which he is heard, behaved, and faced. Modernization in Western countries should be first studied from electronic and print media and observed with its common reflection on the masses and the thorough cycle of study not less than a decade and situations at one’s home, village, town, and a country worth reminiscence or worth recollection. An introspection and review comparative are then made before framing generalization and riding at the stair of conclusion. “Copying is fatal and suicidal” one should keep in mind or be ready to repent after three or four decades, as it is an inevitable after-effects/stroke.

Q10: Do you think old traditions and habits were the main deterrents to the modernization of China? Discuss.
Ans: Old Traditions and Habits:

• Confucianism was concerned with good conduct, practical wisdom, and proper social relationships.
• Customs that were painful to the woman.
• A Socialist man was taken to a person who has five loves: fatherland, people, labor, science, and public property.

Confucianism is no doubt a great stimulus but not understood in its implied meaning. It was taken as a synonym to cowardice, loathsome and a device to intrigue e.g.. Two parties conflict with each other. Hence, the above were the traditions that could not modernize China.

Q11: Why did the Guomindang fail in China?
Ans: Its base was confined to the urban population and never raised the issues pertaining to the common masses.

• Its political vision was very limited as Chian-Kai-Shek wanted his rule in China. His visit to Taiwan and the Constitution of the Republic of China there is all apparent.
• It favored military campaigns against foreigners as also against CPP who was also dedicated to win freedom for China and modernizing her. It reveals the narrow-mindedness of Guomindong under Chiang-kai- Shek.
• It sought military rule for China which was never possible in the prime of democracy.
• It never took positively, the women’s cause. It instead, made some stiff rules for women and favored their confinement within four walls of the house.

Q12: Give a brief account of Fukuzawa Yukichi?
Ans: He was one of the highest intelligent members of the Meiji family. He is born in a poor Samurai family. He acquired higher education in Dutch, western sciences, and English in Nagasaki and Osaka. He was a translator for the first Japanese embassy to the USA. He had composed a hook on The Encouragement to Learning (Gakumon no Susume) not in classical but in the spoken style that became extremely popular. He established a school promoted today as Keio University. He was a member of the society Meirokusha, engaged in the promotion of Western learning. He had advocated not just modem factories and institutes but the cultural essence of the West, the spirit of colonization. His doctrine was thateaven did not create men above men nor set men below men.

Q13: How does a sense of discrimination unite people?
Ans: As development and destruction run simultaneously, equality and discrimination are like two aspects of the same coin. For instance, Buck Clayton in this theme has been told a black American but a wealthy man. By chance, he had to meet insults and humiliations in the hands of White Americans in Shanghai. The apology was, however, asked by them in his matter but he since that day, became a friend to all Chinese and protested against that discrimination viz. he was united with the entire community of black people.
Discrimination is that pleasing thing that receives a wider response from the person who is discriminated against. On such occasions, boundaries of territories, and differences due to Social and Economic status are forgotten and the man discriminated against intakes the issue in-depth and joins himself with the community, so discriminated.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q14: Describe the theme “Paths to modernization” taking two countries i.e. China and Japan, striving for modernization. Mention „ the political thoughts, society and law and orders, and essence of modernization adopted by Japan a smaller country than China.
Ans: The theme "Paths to Modernization" is a fascinating exploration of how different countries, in this case, China and Japan, pursued modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries. While both nations were influenced by the West and sought to modernize their societies, they took distinct approaches. Here's a comparison of their political thoughts, society, law and order, and the essence of modernization:

Japan:

• Political Thoughts: Japan embarked on a process of modernization known as the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. The Meiji leaders recognized the need to adopt Western ideas and institutions to strengthen Japan. They initiated a series of reforms, including the abolition of the samurai class, the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, and the creation of a centralized government.
• Society: Japanese society underwent significant changes during the Meiji era. The government promoted social and cultural reforms that emphasized education, industrialization, and modernization. The caste system was abolished, and a more meritocratic society emerged.
• Law and Orders: The Meiji leaders introduced a new legal system based on European models. This included the adoption of a modern legal code and a judicial system to ensure the rule of law. Legal reforms contributed to the establishment of a more stable and orderly society.
• Essence of Modernization: Japan's modernization was characterized by rapid industrialization and technological advancement. The government invested in infrastructure, education, and industry. Japan adopted Western methods of production, military technology, and governance. The nation became a formidable regional power and eventually a global economic powerhouse.

China:

• Political Thoughts: China's modernization efforts, often referred to as the Self-Strengthening Movement, began in the mid-19th century. Unlike Japan's top-down approach, China's efforts were more fragmented, with some leaders advocating for modernization while others resisted change. The Qing Dynasty attempted to blend traditional Chinese governance with selected Western innovations.
• Society: Chinese society during this period experienced social upheaval, partly due to the Taiping Rebellion and the Opium Wars. These conflicts disrupted traditional social structures and created an environment of instability.
• Law and Orders: The Qing Dynasty made efforts to reform its legal and administrative systems, including the introduction of new codes and bureaucratic reforms. However, these reforms were often inconsistent and insufficient to address the deep-seated problems facing China.
• Essence of Modernization: China's modernization efforts were hindered by political instability, resistance from conservative elements, and foreign encroachment. Unlike Japan, which quickly adopted Western technology and institutions, China faced challenges in implementing meaningful reforms and modernization on a national scale.

In summary, Japan's path to modernization was characterized by a focused and deliberate effort to adopt Western institutions, technologies, and ideologies. The Meiji Restoration laid the foundation for Japan's transformation into a modern, industrialized nation. In contrast, China's modernization efforts were marked by internal divisions, external pressures, and a struggle to reconcile traditional Chinese values with Western ideas. These differences in approach and circumstances had a profound impact on the modernization trajectories of these two East Asian nations. Japan emerged as a highly developed and influential nation, while China faced a longer and more complex journey toward modernity.

Q15: Would you agree with Nishitani’s definition of “Modem”?
Ans: The term “Modern” as defined by Nishitani, a philosopher was composed of crystal of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the rise of natural sciences all western thought. In my opinion, that scholar was all true. It was actually, an exercise to integrate science and religion. These two things are as essential and inevitable as the relation of the body (a crystal made of matters i.e. solid, liquid, and gas) and the soul (emotions, instincts, temperament, and discretion). Science is boon and curses simultaneously depending on its application and, that is possible only when the individual is abreast with biology, botany, environment, the ethics, interrelation of human beings with the environment, etc. On one side, science provides the populace with comforts and ease, while on the other, it spreads devastation; if applied in the manufacture of hydrogen, nuclear bombs. The consequence of the renaissance, the protestant reformations, and the contribution of science to them were, therefore, worth noticing and comparing with the circumstances that existed in Japan.

Q16: Contrast the encounter of the Japanese and the Aztecs with the Europeans.
Ans: The encounters of the Japanese and the Aztecs with Europeans were distinct and shaped by unique circumstances, geography, and timing. Here's a contrast between these two encounters:

Geography and Timing:

• Japanese Encounter: Japan's first significant encounter with Europeans occurred in the late 16th century when Portuguese and later Dutch traders arrived in Japan. This was relatively late compared to other parts of the world.
• Aztec Encounter: The Aztecs, on the other hand, had their first encounter with Europeans during the early 16th century when Hernán Cortés and his Spanish expedition arrived in the Americas. This encounter marked the beginning of European colonization in the New World.

Nature of Encounter:

• Japanese Encounter: The initial European-Japanese interactions were primarily focused on trade. Portuguese traders established trade relations with Japan, bringing goods like firearms, textiles, and Christianity.
• Aztec Encounter: The encounter between the Aztecs and the Spanish was more conquest-oriented. Hernán Cortés aimed to conquer the Aztec Empire, leading to the eventual downfall of the Aztec civilization.

Impact on Native Societies:

• Japanese Encounter: While European influence had a significant impact on Japanese society, including the spread of Christianity and the introduction of firearms, Japan remained a largely independent and cohesive society throughout its interactions with Europeans. Japan eventually imposed a policy of sakoku (isolation) to limit foreign influence.
• Aztec Encounter: The encounter with the Spanish had devastating consequences for the Aztecs. The introduction of diseases like smallpox, combined with Spanish military superiority and alliances with indigenous groups, led to the decimation of the Aztec population and the eventual fall of their civilization.

Cultural and Religious Aspects:

• Japanese Encounter: Japanese society showed more flexibility in adopting some aspects of European culture, including elements of Christianity. However, Japan also later imposed restrictions on Christianity and expelled foreign missionaries.
• Aztec Encounter: The introduction of Christianity in the Aztec Empire was met with resistance, and Aztec religious practices and temples were systematically destroyed by the Spanish. This contributed to the suppression of indigenous beliefs and the conversion of the population to Christianity.

Long-Term Consequences:

• Japanese Encounter: Japan's encounter with Europeans had a lasting impact on its culture and technology, even as it largely closed itself off from the world during the Edo period. Japan would later reopen to the world in the late 19th century and undergo a process of modernization.
• Aztec Encounter: The encounter with the Spanish had catastrophic consequences for the Aztec civilization. It marked the beginning of European colonization in the Americas, leading to the subjugation and displacement of indigenous populations across the continent.

In summary, the encounters of the Japanese and the Aztecs with Europeans were shaped by distinct historical contexts, resulting in different outcomes and long-term consequences. While Japan's encounter led to some cultural and technological exchange, the Aztecs faced conquest, destruction, and colonization by the Spanish. These encounters highlight the complexity and diversity of interactions between indigenous societies and European powers during the Age of Exploration and colonization.

Q17: Analyze the path chosen by China for her modernization?
Ans: Existing situations and circumstances-

• China was under British rule,
• Japan also had defeated China,
• Qing dynasty had weakened the control.

Result: Political and Social order failed to keep the masses at ease and with comforts. Situations had taken a toll of several thousand lives in the course of internal (civil) unrest and invasion by foreign powers. Epidemics had further aggravated the pains of the public. Owing to these circumstances, China could see the light of progress later than Japan.

Inherent Causes:

• Only literary meaning, not an implication of the doctrines or principles were taken care of.
• CCP and N.P.P. irrespective of almost equal aims generated internal unrest for several years.
• The general public took the negative example of colonized countries. They could understand slavery only when the British used Indian soldiers in the opium war with China.
• China could see reformers like Sun-Yat-Sen, politicians, and revolutionaries like Mao-Zedong (CPP) and Deng Xiaoping only in the nineteenth century.