Chapter 5 - The Gap

eighteenth century

In the , India and China accounted for slightly more than half of the world's wealth; by 1900, they had become among the least industrialized and impoverished.

India

China's population surpassed that of both and Europe between 1750 and 1850.

eighteenth century

In the , India and China accounted for slightly more than half of the world's wealth; by 1900, they had become among the least industrialized and impoverished.

India

China's population surpassed that of both and Europe between 1750 and 1850.

India

By 1900, accounted for only 2 % of global industrial production, with China accounting for 7 %, while Europe alone claimed 60 % and the US 20 %, for a total of 80 %.

Meiji

After some fits and starts, the new regime, known as the _ era after the reign title of the new (and very young) emperor Meiji set about dismantling the old feudal system and establishing a strong, centralized state that took on the task of industrializing Japan when private capital failed to take up the challenge.

natural

However, with scant _ resources and tariffs controlled by treaties enforced by the US, Japan's industrialisation pursued an unusual course.

industrial

Having to first export in order to purchase  raw materials, Japan resorted to its silk industry, standardizing and mechanizing as much as possible in order to sell on the global market, eroding the Chinese and French market share.