19th century

=== Japan: Meiji Restoration ===
{{main|Meiji Restoration}}
During the [[Edo period]], [[History of Japan|Japan]] largely pursued an [[Sakoku|isolationist foreign policy]]. In 1853, United States Navy Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]] threatened the Japanese capital [[Edo]] with gunships, demanding that they agree to open trade. This led to [[Bakumatsu|the opening of trade relations]] between Japan and foreign countries, with the policy of [[Sakoku]] formally ended in 1854.

By 1872, the Japanese government under [[Emperor Meiji]] had [[Abolition of the han system|eliminated the ''daimyō'' system]] and established a strong central government. Further reforms included the abolishment of the [[samurai]] class, rapid industrialization and modernization of government, closely following European models.<ref>W. G. Beasley, ''The Meiji Restoration'' (1972),</ref>