Cotterell Western Power in Asia

Its Slow Rise and Swift Fall, 1415 - 1999
Erscheinungsjahr 2011
ISBN: 978-1-118-16999-5
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 480 Seiten, E-Book

For centuries, the major poweres of the West were seduced by theallure of the countries of "the Far East". Spices, textiles, silkand tea were the staples of East- West trade. But competitionbetween Western traders eventually caused military intervention inAsian affairs and the establishment of colonial empires. Theseactions have shapred the history of mankind and left a legacy thatstill reverberates throughout Asia.
Western Power in Asia is a unique contribution to theunderstanding of present- day Asia. Essential reading for anyoneinterested in world history, Arthur Cotterell offers fascinatinginsights into five hundred extraordinary years of power andinfluence by the West, which disappeared spectacularly after theSecond World War. The author's ability to tell both sides of thestory, with the aid of contemporary illustrations as well asquotations, makes this book a tremendous resource for students ofAsian history. And because the entire colonial experience iscovered for the first time within a single volume, Western Powerin Asia also provides the general reader with an unusual andinvaluable perspective on East- West relations.
As countries such as China and India become key players on theworld stage, Western Power in Asia provides a timelyreminder of the path that led to their present positions, whileallowing a poignant opportunity to reflect on how they might infuture treat their Western trading partners.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cotterell, Arthur

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface ix
Introduction xi
Photo Credits xix
PART 1: THE SLOW RISE OF WESTERN IMPERIALISM 1
Chapter 1: Iberian Expansion Overseas, 1415-16473
Portuguese and Chinese Maritime Exploration Compared -- TheSea Route to India Discovered -- The Formation of thePortuguese Empire -- Mixed Portuguese Success in SoutheastAsia -- China and Japan.
Chapter 2: The Struggle for Supremacy, 1647-181553
Early Dutch Power -- New Rivals: the French and the English-- The Battle for India -- Britain's Triumph-- A Chinese Rebuff.
Chapter 3: Imperial Heyday, 1815-1905 107
The Opium Wars -- The Indian Mutiny -- France'sColonial Revival -- The American Colony of the Philippines-- The Russo-Japanese War.
PART 2: AN ASIAN CHALLENGE 159
Chapter 4: The Advent of Imperial Japan, 1868-1941161
The Meiji Restoration -- A New Balance of Power --Revolution in China -- Colonial Unrest -- TheSino-Japanese War.
Chapter 5: The Collapse of Western Power, 1941-45215
The Outbreak of the Pacifi c War -- Catastrophe inSoutheast Asia -- Japan's New Order in Asia -- The Fallof the Japanese Empire -- The Surrender of Japan
PART 3: WESTERN DECOLONISATION 267
Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Withdrawal, 1945-50269
The Post-War Settlement -- The End of the Indian Empire-- Dutch Failure in Indonesia -- The Communist Triumph inChina -- The Occupation of Japan
Chapter 7: Cold War Complications, 1950-99 321
US Intervention -- Independence in British Southeast Asia-- The Tragedy of Vietnam -- Accommodating China andJapan -- Post-colonial Conflicts Postscript: Last Post in HongKong 1997 373
Chronology 377
Endnotes 389
Bibliography 407
Index 441

Über Autor(innen)

Arthur Cotterell was formerly the principal of Kinston College, London. Having lived and travelled widely in Asia, he has been writing about Asian affairs for decades. In 1980 he published The First Emperor of China, whose account of Qin Shi Huangdi's remarkable reign was immediately translated into seven languages. His other works on subjects related to Western Power in Asia have also been acclaimed and translated. At present he is writing a history of Asia.