CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
AWAKENING OF THE EAST

If the nineteenth century was the opportunity
of the West, the twentieth is for the East, Con-
centrated in its eastern and southern fringe, Asia
holds well over half the inhabitants of the globe ;
and this vast population is astir.—E. B. MITFORD

Like Germany, France, and England in Europe, India,
China, and Japan hold the destiny of Asia in their hands.
Apart from their contributions to civilisation in the ancient
times, these countries have influenced human history in
every succeeding age. Their importance has increased in-
stead of diminishing in the modern world. During the
period of great activity on the part of Europe, Asia appeared
to be comparatively sluggish if not altogether dormant. But
there is always a * tide in the affairs of men', and Europe
took it at the flood particularly since the Renaissance.
Europe then awoke from the long slumbers of the Dark
Ages and entered upon a great creative epoch. She dis-
covered new continents, both geographical and intellectual,
In her age of expansion she inundated the whole world.
We have watched her activities in Europe, Africa, and
America. We must now turn to Asia.

The first Asiatic country to come under European con-
trol was India. We have already spoken of the fall of
the Mughal Empire, and alluded to the rivalries between
the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the English