【History General】Modernization and Us: Let’s Discover the "Roots" of Our Current Lives!

Hello everyone! Today, we are going to dive into a major theme of "History General": "Modernization and Us."
Some of you might feel that "history is just about rote memorization and I'm not good at it," but don't worry! What we are learning in this chapter is basically an "instruction manual for modern society," explaining how our "everyday life" (smartphones, schools, money, countries) came to be.

It might feel a bit difficult at first, but if you connect it to your current life, it should click into place easily. Let’s relax and move forward step by step!

1. What exactly is "Modernization"?

The term "modernization" sounds complex, but to put it simply, it is a "massive upgrade to the way the world works, starting around the late 18th century."
It mainly consists of two major changes paired together.

① Economic Update: The Industrial Revolution

Up until this point, things were made carefully by hand. Now, we started using "machines and coal (energy)" to mass-produce goods in factories.
(Example: Think of shifting from sewing one piece of clothing by hand to making 100 at once using sewing machines or large-scale equipment.)

② Political Update: The Civic Revolution (Democratic Revolution)

We moved from an era where kings held absolute power to a system where the "citizens (the people)" became the protagonists of nation-building. This is where concepts like "liberty" and "rights" were born.

【Key Takeaway】
Remember: Modernization = "Industrialization (making things)" + "Democratization (political systems)"!

2. The Industrial Revolution and Our Daily Lives

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain, completely transformed the world.

Why did it start in Britain?

Britain had plenty of coal to power its factories and had accumulated great wealth through trade with its colonies. Also, significant changes in agricultural methods meant more people were moving to cities in search of work, which was another major factor.

How did life change?
  • Rules of Time: In the past, people lived by the sun—working when it rose and sleeping when it set. However, once factory work began, "time management by the clock" (e.g., starting work at 9 AM) became the norm.
  • Urbanization: People gathered around factories, leading to the creation of large "cities."
  • The Advent of Railways: Thanks to steam locomotives, people and goods could travel significantly faster than ever before.

【Fun Fact】
The habit of drinking tea spread during this time, too. Factory workers would drink tea loaded with sugar to refuel during their grueling shifts.

【Common Misconception】
It is a mistake to think that "the Industrial Revolution made everyone happy immediately." In the beginning, it caused many social problems, such as children being forced to work long hours and cities becoming heavily polluted.

3. The Birth of the "Nation-State": Who are "we"?

Today, we take it for granted that we are "Japanese," but before modernization, people identified more strongly as being "a resident of such-and-such village."

Efforts to create a "National" identity

To unite the country, governments used several "tactics":

  • Education: By using the same textbooks and learning the same language (standard language), a sense of shared identity was fostered.
  • Conscription: By creating a duty for everyone to "protect the country," people felt a tangible sense of being a part of the nation.
  • Constitutions and Parliaments: Constitutionalism, where politics is conducted through discussion based on "rules decided by everyone (the constitution)," became widespread.

【Analogy】
Think of it like a school’s "culture" or "uniform." By wearing the same uniform and participating in the same events, students feel a sense of unity: "We are students of X High School!" The national version of this is the "nation-state."

4. Capitalism and Social Change

Through modernization, a new economic system called "capitalism" took root.

The two groups of capitalism

1. Capitalists: Those who own factories, machines, and capital (the employers).
2. Workers: Those who sell their labor to receive a wage (the employees).

The widening gap between these two groups became a major issue. The idea that "we must protect the rights of workers" later gave birth to the ideology of "socialism."

【Summary: Remember these points!】
① Modernization has two main pillars: "Industrial Revolution (Economy)" and "Civic Revolution (Politics)"!
② The Industrial Revolution introduced "clock time" and "urban living"!
③ Through schools and education, disparate people were brought together as "citizens" of a nation!
④ While capitalism made the world more convenient, it also created problems like wealth inequality!

Great job! There are a lot of new terms and difficult concepts, but the first step in History General is simply getting a feel for the fact that "our current lifestyle was created during this period."
Next time, we’ll look at how this modernization spread to Japan and the rest of Asia!