England and Japan are similar in that they are both large islands with immense access to oceans. England is close to the rest of Europe and the Meditteranean while Japan is close to China. The neighbors of these two countries have been influential in the development of both countries. In England, the ports and ocean access allowed for trade to develop between England and the Americas, which provided England with oil, furs, lumber, meat, fish, grain, and other necessities. It allowed trade between Englad and Gibralter, which brought wine and fruit. This trade is seen by 'Atlantic Trade Routes 1650-1750'. In the article by Edward Baines we see that England also traded with the rest of Europe and the Meditteranean areas. In Japan, it's ports and nearby neighbors helped the development of Japan's agricultural techniques and government. The culture of China 'diffused' to Japan, through trade and Chinese invasions of Japan in the 1200's which corresponds to the time period shown the the document titled ' Cultural Diffusion from China 500-1000 AD'. This document tells us that the Chinese setup of centralized government, agricultural methods, and measuring standards influenced the culture and political system of Japan.

The geographical locations and availability of resources of Japan and England led to their increasing empires and power. The manufacturing industry was able to develop in England because England is rich in coal and wool ( George T. Warner " modern manufactures cluster round coal-fields...her sheep give the best wool, that her harbours are plentiful,, that she is not ill-off for rivers..') which are both necessary for powering industry and making manufactured clothes, bags, uniforms, etc. It was made successful because England has so many lands to trade with, including among her own population that is united through rivers. Because of the fact that Brittain traded with the lands surrounding her, she would have great influence over these lands, since she provided them with their manufactured goods. We learn from the document by Edward Baines, who seems to biased towards a positive view of England because he is English noted by his reference to 'our' ships, that Englad had control of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean waterways, and was close to both North and South Brittain. '...excellent commercial position of the country....intermediate between north and south of Europe....command of the seas...The German ocean, the Baltic, and the Meditteranean are the regular highways of our ships...' This helped England to develop into the world power of the early 1900's and that we see today. By at least 1650 England had colonies in North America and Gibralter seen in ' Atlantic Trade Routes 1650-1750'. This would be due to the fact that England could produce more than enough for it's own people and people had the time, money, and power to specialize in a trade, such as sailing and exploring. By 1910, England had control of Canada, parts of Central and South America, Africa, Australia and surrounding islands, and India. These lands are all close to where English ships could said either thru the Atlantic, Mediterranean, or Indian Oceans as seen by the map entitled ' The Brittish Empire at It's Height, 1910'. Brittish control of the seas protected it and kept the powerful country safe from invasion.

England's government, social structure, and culture would all be affected by it being an industrial and militarial power. More industry means bigger cities and less country dwellers. Power might cause a sense of security and freedom in the people. The government must be strong enough to support it's people and manage it's many worldwide property.

In Japan, it's ports and agricultural means helped it develop a self sufficient state and a strong navy. Japanese ports '...abound with fish of all kinds...The fishing industries have helped to provide Japan with a recruiting ground for one of the most formidable navies of modern times...' ( document by Walter Weston). Japanese were able to feed their population with the vast amount of fish available and rice farming. Farming was the most important occupation in Japan unlike England. In Japan farmers were esteemed over merchants as seen in the article by Alfred Stead '..The agriculturists provided sufficient food to supply the nation.....farmers were ranked far higher than merchants...'. Because Japan had ports and a fishing industry they had a navy of men experienced in sailing and boats. Japan invaded China during the Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644) and also later in the late 1800's and the early 1900's with other western powers. Japan realized however, that to be great they would need industry not just agriculture as seen in the document by Alfred Stead " ...it is very difficult to maintain a high standard of national greatness when the revenue of the land....depends entirely upon the fall of rain....'. She was able to conquer Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan, and Sakhan by 1934 as seen in the map of ' Japan's Expanding Empire to 1934'. These new lands provided Japan with more of the resources it needed to become and industrial power in the world. These new territories provided Japan with such necessities as coal, copper, iron, oil, and petroleum, again seen in ' Japan's Expanding Empire to 1934'. Alfred Stead seems to think well of Japan but discards the benefits of the agricultural Japan, portraying that industry is better or more reliable.

These documents all portrayed the positives on the resources and location of Japan and England. None of them stated any disadvantages. For a well rounded view, negatives on the locations and perhaps what resources either of the countries lacked would be necessary. Also, we have to first hand accounts of Japan. There is an article from an English author, but not from a Japanese one. I think it would also be benefitial for there to be a diary of an industrial worker from England and a diary or letter of a man from Japan in either the navy or a rice farmer. We only get overview in these documents. I could have grouped these documents by their chronological histories, rather than individual characteristics of their histories based on different geographical aspects.