In 1904 Russian and Japanese expansionism in Manchuria and Korea resulted in war. It was a conflict that Russia fully expected to win. In the event, Russia was defeated on land and most emphatically at sea. The modernisation of Japan gathering pace since the mid-C19th lay at the heart of the victory. Nonetheless, with reserves of men and money dwindling fast, the Japanese Government was happy to accept Theodore Roosevelt's offer of mediation culminating in the Treaty of Portsmouth of 1905. The consequences were of great significance not just in East Asia but also in Europe as Russian attention re-focused on her Balkan interests.
Course aim
The course will examine the causes, course and consequences of the war between Russia and Japan.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Describe why Japan and Russia went to war in 1904.
- Outline the course of the war at sea and on land.
- Describe the strategic implications of Japan's victory and disappointment in the resultant peace treaty.
- Describe the implications for Europe of Russia's defeat.
What else do I need to know?
No prior knowledge is necessary. There will be links to further reading and podcast material on Canvas.
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