1. Some scholars have argued that during the Qing Dynasty Chinese officials sought to conquer Central Asia primarily as a defensive measure, to prevent China from being invaded by nomadic groups from the west. Other historians maintain that China was primarily interested in spreading Chinese culture and making the people of Central Asia culturally Chinese. Which argument would you agree with more? Why?
2. After conquering Central Asia in the 1700s, Qing officials had to justify their conquests to the Chinese people. What methods did they take to justify their conquests? In your opinion, how successful were these efforts in convincing the Chinese public of the legitimacy of these conquests?
3. In the early 1800s China and Japan enjoyed relatively good relations. Chinese leaders saw Japan as a promising vassal state, Japanese leaders admired Chinese government, religion, art, and culture. Yet by the late 1800s this relation had become incredibly negative. In your opinion, why did Chinese-Japanese relations sour so badly over the course of the nineteenth century?