Week 9 Reading Notes A: At the crossroads of empire: Vietnam, India, China

Pages 537-546

Authors

Nguyen Du- (538) Vietnamese writer who enjoyed “ intellectual traditions of imperial China” wrote in

Vietnamese.

Poet= Ghalib (539) wrote in two languages, Persian and Urdu. He was Muslim.

Missionary = Pandita Ramabai (539). Was “... from an orthodox Hindu family, she converted to

Christianity- the religion of the British- and became a missionary, traveling to the United States and

Britain and devoting herself to reforming the lives of Indian women, who, she argued, were essential

to the wellbeing of her beloved homeland.” (539). Wrote in two languages also, English and her

native Marathi. She seemed to be a feminist. She followed her own path and did what she thought

was right. Very beautiful and inspirational.

Liu E - (539) during this time the advancement of the European technology and expansion caused

violent push back from those who believed in the

traditional Chinese way of life.

He “... supported industrialization and was willing to borrow ideas from the West, but he opposed

foreign power over China.”

“All of them had to negotiate between two or more languages and power structures. But their

responses were strikingly varied. And so together they give a rich sense of the multiple ways that

bitterness, inspiration, and responsibility combine to create the complex experience of writing at the

crossroads of powerful empires.” (541)

Historically-

1850’s- the French invaded Vietnam, Laos, and Columbia with the hope and intention of creating an

established empire that was able to compete with the British in Asia. (542) These native people were

combined into a colony called Indochina.

In India the first emperor of The Mughal Empire was Babur 1483-1530 “… Had brought with him

reach traditions of Persian art and literature as well as his Islam faith to create a new dynasty that

would rule over the Hindu majority in India for three centuries. “ (542). His grandson’s name was

Akbar the Great 1542–1605. He was known for “… Established a well organized bureaucracy and

permitted multiple religions to flourish, allowing Hindus to serve as generals and administrators. “

(542).- I find this very impressive and important to note due to many world leaders even today not

respecting other religions.

Taj Mahal was “built in 1640 as the mausoleum for the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Shah Javan,

captures the sumptuousness and grantor of this period in Indian history. “ (543)

Emperor Aurangzeb 1618-1707 was Muslim. (543)

In “... 1804, the British East India Company officially took control” of India after emperor Aurangzeb

stretched his resources to thin.

Religion –

“Buddhism and Confucianism remained the dominant religious traditions, along with Daoism, and

these merged to become a distinctively Vietnamese religion.” (541)

“French missionaries had been in Vietnam since the 16th century, and the French, especially eager

for new markets for their own products, had long been interested in opening up trade with Vietnam. “

(541). - why do missionaries care about market and trade for their country? Should t the focus on

preaching their message? Conflicting interests and motives.