Why Should The British Study Siamese

The Khmer Empire, which is modern-day Cambodia, was a powerful state in South East Asia. The empire lasted from 802 CE to 1431 CE. The Khmer Empire was also home to the famous Hindi temple complex, Angkor

There is an extensive history empirical power, repeatedly and successfully controlling another state or group of people in order to exploit it economically. In Southeast Asia there were 5 colonial powers; the United Kingdom, France, Dutch, America, and Japan, their primary motives for establishing colonies in the region was to get control of trade routes, to get access to the natural resources and raw materials, and the cheap labor, as well as to establish naval and military bases so that they could amass influence in the region. Prior to World War II, a third of the world 's area was colonized by European colonial powers between the 15th and 19th centuries, and another third of the world 's population were in colonies, dependencies, protectorates, or dominions. In this essay, I will focus on the British and French colonization in Southeast Asia. The British-controlled Burma, most of the Malayan peninsula, and Singapore, which was a strategic port and later became a naval base for the British. Meanwhile, the French controlled the adjoining countries of Vietnamese, Cambodia, and Laos, collectively known as French Indochina. This period of colonization in Southeast Asia brought many changes to the regions society, politics, and the economy. For instance, both colonial powers introduced political changes such as introducing a centralized form of government and changes to the justice systems in many of the colonized countries. There were also social impacts resulting from the

A. It was natural that the British should take an interest in the kingdom of Burma, on the eastern border of India

That Colonialism and imperialism played a significant role in shaping the modern world and particularly Asia is a prudent judgment. Colonialism is "a policy in which a country rules other nations and develops trade for its own benefit" and "the extension of power or authority over others in the interests of domination" (2004). 'The West', which refers to the societies of Europe and their genealogical, colonial, and philosophical descendants. Spain, France, Britain, Canada, and the United States of America are some examples of Western societies. These countries have spread their influence and hegemony over other nations for centuries; shaping today's North America,

What were some of the political, economic, social, intellectual, and military factors that explained the sudden increase in the pace and importance of European imperialism in the late 19c? The essential impetus was the Industrial Revolution which led to a search for (and control of) sources of raw materials and captive markets to sell manufactured goods, and become a world power with the most colonies and most money.

Large busy markets, snake charmers, carpet vendors, and veiled women all invoke ideas of West Africa, the Middle East, and West Asia, but all these ideas come from Oriental fantasies from the nineteenth century. Edward Said the author of Orientalism said that “Orientalism was ultimately a political vision of reality whose structure promoted the difference between the familiar (Europe, West, "us") and the strange (the Orient, the East, "them").” The nineteenth century was a period of imperialism and tourism that led many western artists to visit West Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Orientalist paintings depicted two major effects, many artists often portrayed something “exotic,” which was racialized, feminized, and from a sexualized culture from a faraway land. Another effect that artists mainly like Jean-Léon Gérôme often showed was an authentic glimpse of a location and its inhabitants. Nochlin mentioned that many of Gérôme’s paintings worked to persuade their audiences by carefully representing a "preexisting Oriental reality.”

1)During the Cold War, Europe was divided and faced three consequences (results). One consequence that occurred in Europe was that the US helped create NATO which composed the western allies. The second consequence is that the Soviet Union signed the Warsaw Pact with allies from Eastern Europe. Finally, the third consequence is that a line was formed between the west and north. This line was called the Iron Curtain.

Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Imperialism was at an all-time high during European expansion movement through Asia, India, and Africa. If I was to be from Asia, in this time era, I would seek out many other options to avoid imperialism. I would picture the situation in a way that allowed me to talk to Europe’s head power of expansion. I believe that Asia could co-opt European ideas, but still keep their way of life economically and politically.

Vietnam is a southeastern Asian country that has been occupied by the French since the early 19th Century. During War War II Japanese forces invaded Vietnam. In order for the native Vietnamese to fight off both the French Colonial Administration and the invading Japanese, political leader Ho Chi Minh inspired by Soviet Communism, established the League of Independence of Vietnam. After Japan’s defeat in World War II in 1945, the Japanese withdrew their forces from Vietnam. The French educated Emperor Bao Dai was now back in control of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh saw this as an opportunity to finally gain control and almost immediately took control of the northern city of Hanoi. Ho Chin Minh declared himself as president. In hopes to regain control of Hanoi, France backed Emperor Bao and created the state of Vietnam in 1949. Although both sides wanted the same goal of uniting Vietnam, their government views were drastically different. Ho and his followers wanted the nation to be modeled after other communist countries. While Bao and his followers wanted their country to be in close ties with democratic countries in the west. These causes led to a civil war for the sole control of Vietnam.

smugglers, was occupied by the British Empire during the first opium war against the Chinese

Kon'nichiwa! I’m Japan! You probably know me for my aesthetic cherry blossoms and splendid anime, but let me tell you, things weren’t always as kawaii as they seemed. For a loooong time, I was isolated from other countries by my own shoguns and daimyos, my militaristic dictators and their warrior landlords respectively. We got along fine at first, but my common people were becoming increasingly unhappy with their little political power and heavy taxes. Then, on a fateful day in July of 1853, I met… the West.

The age of imperialism was an important part of history, it was during the 19th and 20th centuries. During this time period, European countries were taking over great sections of the world. It wouldn't be long before they started to take over Asia. Some countries such as, India and China, went under European control and influence. While Japan adopted reforms to meet the western challenge. How was it possible that Japan was able to be strong while India and China couldn't?

Tibet has had a very long history within and outside of China. For many years, Tibet was its own kingdom, ruling over the plateau for which it is named with full sovereignty. However, Tibet eventually came under the official rule of the Qing dynasty, the Manchu dynasty of China. Within Qing, Tibet retained a very high level of local autonomy, having its own government and many qualities similar to independent countries. In some ways, it didn't even identify as being part of Qing. An example is the time when China was divided into multiple spheres of influence between European powers. The British had enforced a trade law on China, but the Dalai Lama at the time refused to obey, citing Tibet as not part of China. This continued

As many people know, Imperialism has shaped the culture and customs all over the world. Imperialism is the dominance of one country over another politically, economically or socially. Western culture can be seen in all parts of the world; from Asia to Africa, to the Indies and the Americans. The downside of having the bits of western culture all over the world, is how it got there. Western influence was forced upon places in Asia, specifically India, Indonesia with a hellacious price; lives and poverty.

The British took over from the south and west and the French took over from the east. When the French started their aggression towards Siam, the British saw this as a problem because 90% of the Siamese trade was in the British power (Rose 278). So the British, to keep Siam from the French and to keep its trade power, decided to make Siam a buffer state. A buffer state is an independent country in the middle of two great powers. It could help prevent face to face conflict between the two powers. The King of Siam (Rama Ⅴ) saw this in his best interests as it helped keep the Kingdom’s independence. “Wedged between two powerful peoples, he wishes to see his kingdom exchange for a definitely recognised independence the role of buffer state which its geographical position has given it. This is the object of his visit to Europe.” (The King Of Siam). The King of Siam had made great efforts to retain its independence. and traveled to France to discuss the role of being a buffer state. In 1896 both Great Britain and France agreed to make Siam a buffer state (Conserva 181). This was Siam’s strongest method of avoiding colonization, even though it had no influence over the decision