Chapter 19 & Documents

Throughout history growth of the economy and expansion of its people and trade can be seen across all nations. During the time the Industrial revolution became popular in many countries, China was one of the few countries that did not adapt to this economical change. In some ways China was was victim of its own earlier success. China had a robust economy and its American food crops allowed it to enable a sustainable population growth from about 100 million people in 1685 to 430 million people in 1853. Unlike other countries, specially Europe, where similar growth and expansion took place China lacked the Industrial Revolution that accompanied this growth. The result of China's growing population and no massive food industry to supply its people their needs came the result of growing pressure on the land, smaller farms for China's huge peasant population, and in all too many cases, unemployment, impoverishment, misery and starvation. This was only the beginning into bigger problems that China would soon face. Thy faced problems within their country but also issues with relationships regarding other countries as well. The world around China seemed to be changing, however, the Chinese struggled with changing with them. In this chapter Stayer does a good job about discussing the problems and obstacles and China faced during this time period.
Something that I found interesting in this chapter was during the revolution women fought with the soldiers. This was something very new during this time period - women would be fighting alongside men/soldiers. This seemed as though it was the beginning for many gender roles to change.
Additionally, this ties into the document 19.3 because in that document it discusses the gender roles of women in China and how during this time period they were beginning to change.