The Meiji Restoration of Japan

The Meiji Restoration of Japan was was a chain of events that led to changes in Japan's political and social structure. Japan is an archipelago, which means a group of islands. Japan had cut them selves out of the world not knowing how much it had grown. the technology were advanced and they had not notice, until one day Matthew Perry came. Matthew Perry had arrived at Japan with a simple steamed powed boat. this was modern technology to him. But since Japan had cut off on trading routes and all they hadf never seen this type of technology. that was when there eyes had opened. they then reliezed how far behind they were. Perry had treated them unfairly.

The Opium War

The Opium Trade in China between the British and the Chinese was the very first drug war of the 19th century. It was called the Opium War, Opium is a preparation made from the juice of poppy seedpods, and used to produce heroin.The drug was mainly produced in and shipped from the East Indies to China by British merchants. This addictive drug had gotten many Chinese badly hooked by the early 1800s. These battles went on for three years.

During these three years of battling many things happened. The Chinese would take the opium coming in and destroyed it. Also they would kill anyone who tyred to sell opium. Capetian Charles Elliot tried to get a letter to Queen Victoria. The letter never made it to England because his messenger was killed by some sailors in China. In the three year span Britain won the war because of there advanced technology. They made china sign a treaty that enabled china to give the British more ports and legalise the opium.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of The Moon"

The film "Mountains of The Moon" is about two English explorers that are in africa in search of the source of the nile river. These two explorer names are Richard Burton and John Speke. While in africa they bring along some african natives and payed them to help them in their journey. While in africa they ran into some african tribes that never seen white people before. One tribe in the movie attacked Richard and John and their group. They escaped but richard took a spear through the side of the face. While still adventuring in africa John had to deal with dangerous bugs and a beetle went in his ear. While also roaming the african fields they ran into lions. Some of the water they found was poison and some of the african people who came with them drank it and got malaria. They ran into another tribe and gave them gifts such as a telescope and a gun. John later in the film claims to Richard he found the source but richard wouldnt believe him. They both headed back to England, and later on while richard was pleading his case on how john wasnt right, john killed himself. Richard felt sad and couldnt finnish his speech.