BEFORE YOU WATCH: Asian Responses to Imperialism

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!) . If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

Why do we often end up relying on sources from intellectuals when studying imperialism?
What did Asian intellectuals recognize as the principal reason for European dominance at this time, according to John Green?
How does John Green describe the “modernization” response that many Asian societies followed?
What strategy did Kang Youwei suggest that China follow in response to European industrial might?
What important political transformation did Sayyid Jamal Ad-Din Al-Afghani propose?
Why was Japan not a great model for many other Asian states in this era, according to John Green?
What non-Western sources of strength did Sayyid Jamal Ad-Din Al-Afghani and Liang Qichao propose for Asian regions?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

Why is it important to look at modernization and imperialism from perspectives other than the colonizers? How does it cause us to revise our understanding of imperialism—in terms of communities, networks, and production and distribution?
This video deals with people who did a lot of thinking. These intellectuals wrote and argued for new forms of resistance, but not many of them got out in the streets and drove pirate vans or became resistance fighters. Of the types of resistance you’ve read about so far, which seems most effective?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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