Features of the development of Asian countries

In European historiography Eastern societies are often called “traditional societies”, where custom, state order and particular forms of landholding dominate. The textbook distinguishes four civilizations in Asia: the Chinese–Confucian, Japanese, Indian and Islamic civilizations. Japan had a military nobility like Europe’s — samurai and lords; in Indian society castes, in which a person’s place is fixed by birth, played an important part; in Islamic civilization religion shaped both the worldview and everyday order. Until the mid-17th century Asia was not behind Europe in crafts, trade and military affairs, but later large military spending, slow growth of shipbuilding, roads and book printing, “closed door” policies and extensive use of resources left Asia behind Europe. Against this background European colonialism moved to conquer many Asian countries or turn them into semi-colonies.