Changes

==The Meiji Era: 1868-1912==

==The Meiji Era: 1868-1912==

Following the [[Treaty of Kanagawa]] with the United States in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernise and industrialise.  During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and [[Russia]]. It occupied [[Korea]], [[Formosa]] ([[Taiwan]]), and southern Sakhalin Island.  

Following the [[Treaty of Kanagawa]] with the United States in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernise and industrialise.  During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and [[Russia]]. It occupied [[Korea]], [[Formosa]] ([[Taiwan]]), and southern [[Sakhalin Island]].  

====Revolt====

====Revolt====

[[Image:Perry.jpg|frame|right|American Commodore [[Matthew Perry]] forced Japan to open its ports in 1853]]

[[Image:Perry.jpg|frame|right|American Commodore [[Matthew Perry]] forced Japan to open its ports in 1853]]

====Imperialism====

====Imperialism====

The phrase "imperial period" refers to Japan competing with European powers and the [[United States]] for colonies and influence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  The high point of Japanese prestige was the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904-5, in which Japan became the principal power in [[Manchuria]] and consolidated its control of [[Korea]] and over the southern portion of [[Sakhalin]] Island and Taiwan. In [[World War I]] Japan fought over a limited number of German-controlled pacific colonies as part of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, gaining control of [[Qingdao]] (Tsingtao), a German-controlled colony in China, as well as several German-controlled Pacific Islands, the most significant being [[Truk]] lagoon.

The phrase "imperial period" refers to Japan competing with European powers and the [[United States]] for colonies and influence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  The high point of Japanese prestige was the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904-5, in which Japan became the principal power in [[Manchuria]] and consolidated its control of [[Korea]] and over the southern portion of [[Sakhalin]] Island and Taiwan. In [[World War I]] Japan fought over a limited number of German-controlled pacific colonies as part of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, gaining control of [[Qingdao]] (Tsingtao), a German-controlled colony in China, as well as several German-controlled Pacific Islands, the most significant being [[Truk]] lagoon.

==Economy and empire; war and defeat: 1912-1950==

==Economy and empire; war and defeat: 1912-1950==