418 A BRIEF SURVEY OF HUMAN HISTORY

not much trouble in accomplishing the rest/ The Japanese
took this confession literally and promptly adopted measures
to prevent their land passing into the hands of such dangerous
foreigners.

In 1614 the practice and preaching of Christianity were
forbidden. By determined j^ersecution that religion was
stamped out from Japan by 1638. Since then, until the
re-opening of that country to external intercourse after 1853,
the doors of Japan remained closed to foreigners. During
this period of over two centuries Japan continued to be
steeped in feudal parochialism. She emerged out of this
isolation in 1853-54 when the American adventurer, Com-
modore Perry, forced his way into Japan against the prohi-
bition. This resulted in the Treaty of Kanagawa by which
Japanese ports were once again opened to intercourse with
the hated " barbarians." In return the United States offer-
ed to sell to Japan ' such arms and battleships as she might
need, and to land officers and craftsmen for the instruction
of this absurdly pacific nation in the arts of war.'

The consequence was the great awakening of Japan in
the Meiji Era (1867-1912) under its enlightened Emperor
Meiji Tenno. During this short period Japan transformed
herself from an obscure feudal country into one of the
most modern states. Hundreds of Japanese youths went
to Europe and America and returned home with the zeal of
Peter the Great for Europeanisation. 'Englishmen were
brought in to superintend the construction of railways, the
erection of telegraphs, and the building of a navy; French-
men were commissioned to recast the laws and train the
army ; Germans were assigned to the organization of medicine
and public health; Americans were engaged to establish a
system of universal education; and to make matters com-
plete, Italians were imported to instruct the Japanese in