What if the Chinese Empire had Industrialized? (Alternative History)

China was the most dominate power since the times of Rome. but by the 1800s the Europeans had successfully undergone the process industrialization and were able to assert their dominance over China. But what if Lat Emperor Guangxu had been successful in his attempt to industrialize china? Lets take a look!
Instagram: / that_annoying_american

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

First off, Be sure to join the TAA discord!: discord.gg/9cMddVW4kJ Secondly, sorry for my butchering of Chinese pronunciations. Thirdly, Happy Lunar New Year! Lastly, As I mentioned at the end of this video as well as on my Instagram (*cough* *cough* instagram.com/that_annoying_american/) the laptop I usually use to make these videos broke down earlier this week. Luckily it's still covered by its warranty so I’ve sent in for repairs. However, this video was done on a mobile device so please excuse the lackluster editing and hit and miss microphone quality.

[@Cilvathorne]

hello fellow american ;)

[@savagedarksider5934]

Please make part 2...

[@JTL1776]

could this lead to a nationalist free china that sides with America against japan in ww2.

[@Gray-Wolf]

I'm curious; In your opinion, during the time of the decline of the Qing Empire was it still a major power (or at least a major regional power)?

[@annetteauito5533]

yes yes yes yes

[@thelastbison2241]

The Qing notability saw them as conquers similarly how the Spartans saw themselves as outsiders and invaders. They were more afraid of Han rebellion (the loss of Mongols in China) than foreign outsiders... This ended up destroying China because they saw the Han as a threat and spend all their energies trying to sustain Manchu notability. Today, you can't even find Manchus

[@poopsiedoodlesp8506]

Nah there's still a lot of Manchus but usually it's just some 6 foot big bone guy and they're like "yeah my grandma's Manchu" 🤣

[@andrewyuyoungearn2799]

true@@poopsiedoodlesp8506

[@DarkwarriorJ]

Early Qing: "We will incorporate Han defectors, even if that pisses off all the other Manchus." Manchus: *Angry* Liaoning military garrison of the Ming: "Well, when you put it that way..." Late Qing: "We will preserve the Qing royal family, even if this pisses off everyone else." Manchus: "Yeah whatever, we're already Han." Han: "How could you let our empire be humiliated like this? We blame you and the Manchus, if we can find any Manchus..." /assimilation engine go brr Mongols: "You promised me an empire. We have it, but I don't like it." Hui/Muslim minorities: *Angry rebellion* Han guy who had a mental breakdown failing his exams: "Let's start a religious war, it's really in season today!"

[@andrewyuyoungearn2799]

@@DarkwarriorJ true

[@poopsiedoodlesp8506]

@@DarkwarriorJ Taiping Rebellion? That’s just keeping up with the times 😂

[@DeezNutz-em8tr]

I really liked this video, please make a part 2!

[@sussyballs424]

China will join the axis

[@generationclash5004]

Make a part 2, I especially wanna see how this China would do in WW2!!

[@appa609]

If China had been strong there would have been no Pacific theatre.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Except if China had gone through its own expansionist phase in the 1930s and '40s and we'd have all been fucked

[@RaysGamingChannel2003]

And there will be no Chinese Communist party or Communist Party of China

[@ggpurohit6009]

There would be no japan

[@cyborgchicken3502]

@@ggpurohit6009 there'd still be a Japan, they just wouldn't have become as powerful as they did in the early 20th century

[@ggpurohit6009]

@@cyborgchicken3502 if china became imperialist (in this timeline) then there second target would be japan After korea

[@ainzooalgown9451]

part 2 would be nice

[@JTL1776]

PLEASE DO A PART 2 on this.

[@generationclash5004]

I'M WAITING.

[@MieheKnoi]

still waiting...

[@timvanrijn8239]

While intresting. This seems very optimistic. China pulling a japan is possible but a russian senatio is more likely. With the mixing of feudal and industrial still leading to a warlord era. Sure the qing have some better trained troops and railroads. So will every foreing backed warlord.

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

I do agree that China would stand on pillars of salt and sand. Which could easily collapse if they weren’t careful.

[@Gray-Wolf]

@@ThatAnnoyingAmerican what would've been funny if after the Xinhai Revolution was replaced with yet another imperial dynasty

[@brookchen1988]

Would love to see a part 2

[@SMGJohn]

One of the reasons why China did not adopt the steam machine during 17th and 18th century, they certainly knew about it and China historically always been a great technology adopter, was simply because from 10th to 14th century, China industrialised on a scale far greater than Britain ever did during the Steam era, but China industrialised with water and wind power, not with Steam, you see, water mills are cheap to run and can have great output, windmills are also great and while Steam was also great, for Britain which was a small piece of land, lacked rivers and wind to match that of China and had abundance of coal, it made sense, but for Chinese the wind and water power worked, it worked well for hundreds of years if not thousands, and what they did back then worked so well that it made no economical sense to switch over to Steam, yes there were STEAM power in China very early, but these were uneconomical to run, for one labour costs in China were very low, China historically always had people and labour was never a shortage, what one Steam engine could do in China, cheaper water mill and ten times more workers then UK could ever dream about made Steam engines unrealistic in China. However its also true that corruption, close minded ruling class of China essentially doomed the country, they thought the early Steam engines would never succeed because they were slow, bulky, heavy, expensive compared to manual labour, little did they know that Steam machines would evolve rapidly so would science as well, because of their refusal to adopt machines like so in 17th century or at least allow development, their economy would continue to stagnate, just for reference, China alone outproduced THE ENTIRE WORLD in steel until late 19th century, think about that for a moment, that alone without Steam power is impressive feat. Needless to say, China today will surpass the world in every field imaginable within next 100 years, but China will realise their limitation of growth under Capitalism, and return once more to command economy run by computer network instead of the old pen and paper method.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

China is facing a demographic crisis close to that of Japan's, and even abandoning one-child policy has not reversed this trend in any significant way. The country's prospects in the short term are still excellent, but in the long term Chinese growth will be severely limited due to this. Of course that doesn't necessarily suit the CCP narrative, which would tell you that a hundred years from now China will surpass the entire rest of the world in any way imaginable, but the long-term future for the People's Republic doesn't look quite as rosy as the picture you're presenting here. In all likelihood the PRC will be a solid rival to the United States and possibly one or two of the other emerging powers (Brazil and India being reasonably likely candidates, as is the EU if it can continue to progress in its proces of economic, political and military integration) in a multi-polar global order, as long as it can avoid the kind of longterm stagnation Japan has faced, which will be a significant challenge for the PRC. In any case it is extremely unlikely the PRC will reach the kind of hegemonic hyperpower status the United States briefly held in the 1990s and early 2000s, or that the United Kingdom held for much of the 19th century. In fact, it's highly unlikely the world will see ANY nation attain that kind of status in the foreseeable future, and the world will probably be better off without it.

[@ac1455]

@@Jayce_Alexander of course, the easiest way to topple the current world order is a new industrial revolution which would make the demographic issue a non problem, but that probably won’t happen for at least a few decades. More realistically, the best outcome for China is that they partially automate soon to be needed services like construction and healthcare while continuing outsourcing to Africa. This would solve the issue of a high dependency ratio and help them move out of middle income. This would’ve been easier had the HK crackdowns not happened and let the 2047 agreement run its course, thereby assuring Taiwan that it won’t be cracked down on if it unified, giving them access to domestic advanced technology to automate faster. On its oil dependency, China has been growing rapidly in renewables which it can afford to due to its loans and mining companies in Africa and their domestic resources, not to mention nuclear growth and construction of a Siberian pipeline with a very desperate Russia. So, while the economy will likely surpass the US by the next decade even assuming a slowing growth, it’ll take a few decades at least to surpass the US and its allies (mainly the EU for now).

[@ramenbomberdeluxe4958]

I think this time, China should ACTUALLY TRY communism this time, or at LEAST Democratic Socialism, instead of whatever dog water tyrannical dictatorship they ended up with, provided the means to revolt against this awful system presents itself. This is why I think we need a new rebellion on the lines of ones like the famed Yellow Turban/Scarves Rebellion from the Han Dynasty era, just a MASSIVE revolt that, win or lose, will upend the status quo and lead to its collapse. If not by the rebellion itself? Then it will be by the ensuing fallout from how badly the nation was damaged by it, more specifically the government.

[@Gray-Wolf]

It is rather unfortunate that towards the end of the qing era that it was merely a old empire trying to hold on to what power it had left, it was the "Sick man of Asia" if you will

[@trikitrikitriki]

In that case, rapid industrialization might lead more towards a Holy Roman Empire-style fracturing

[@mikalero]

I would love to see what you think would happen with the inner court structure, and how the harem system might change or evolve in this alternate history.

[@1mol831]

We get cursed Chinese harem anime instead in this version of althist.

[@theedmaster7748]

WE NEED A PART 2!!1!1!

[@426mak]

To put it simply, the growth in China would have happened about a century earlier.

[@noobymooby-ty8gh]

China would undoubtedly become today's no.1 superpower if they had industrialised when they were still the qing empire, sad that the greed of a wannabe royal ruined the emperor's progress on making china a hegemonic power again.

[@tannerdoyle7535]

I really like this video and yeah a part 2 would be cool but you guys know what would be cooler… what if Japan stayed isolationist

[@rayni7104]

As the government system continue, it become harder to change to take what the stakeholder have. Which is what US right now

[@suntzu1433]

I hear rumors that empress dowager actually poisoned guangxu so I think he wouldve lived longer up into the early 30's .

[@tutorialesminecraft8930]

I agree. Xuantong assumed the role of emperor when he was only 2.

[@charmyzard]

One of my favorite vids I've seen in a while.

[@orangecitrus8056]

Please do a part 2 🙏

[@Wheninrome6042]

This KZbin channel should have more subscribers and views

[@taitai2334]

Part 2!

[@MonCappy]

Please make a part two. :)

[@ecoterra8497]

please do part 2

[@grao-duquedoriopardocanalo5125]

What If Iberian Union never ocurred?

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

I would potentially like to create a video with this. However I know a whole lot on the subject. I will research further. But why don’t you tell me what you think the biggest change would be?

[@grao-duquedoriopardocanalo5125]

@@ThatAnnoyingAmerican In this Timeline Portugal is the Biggest potence of rhe world Nethertland do not conquest the Brazil Northeast and Portuguese India (conquest only Spanish territories, and more of them) Portugal Spanish War occur (with Netherlands, Portugal and English vs Spanish, Holy Roman German Empire and France) Sorry for my bad English

[@Cloriden]

Me still waiting for part 2💀💀💀

[@somerandomguy2447]

What if the American revolution was was crushed/defeated

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

I’ve been thinking about this one for a long time. I have a plethora of videos planned, but I’ll put this one on my list.

[@Kiddo5010]

The Second Song is The Goddess On The Mountain

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of What if the Chinese Empire had Industrialized? (Alternative History) momentum 100

[@historysmysteriesunveiled8043]

please part 2

[@wewe4731]

Part 2 pls

[@zyairjames6758]

Can you do a part 2

[@repco8443]

Part 2 would be cool

[@rifleboy4837]

We want a PART22222

[@phatogdaphantom7495]

PLEAAAAASE PT2

[@rehanmalik5683]

8:45 hopefully korea is left in peace

[@savagedarksider5934]

What if A member of the Chinese Imperial family married into the Britain Royal Family ? How would that effect history ?

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

I’m not sure if either of those parties would agree to that. They were very xenophobic towards each other. But none the less the idea of that is incredibly interesting. Seeing as nothing like that ever happened between China and anyone I don’t even know what would happen. I may just make a mini video about this just because it’s so out there and interesting.

[@rexwu7849]

@@ThatAnnoyingAmerican It wouldn't happen. The Manchus barely married into the Han royal families. It would be seen as an ultimate disgrace if any Chinese royal family married into a foreign royal family.

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

@@rexwu7849 I agree with you, but the idea is still extremely interesting to me, even though it is extremely unrealistic

[@savagedarksider5934]

@@rexwu7849 It's alternate history. It doesn't have to follow real world logic.

[@rolloxra670]

Dude that idea is amazingly interesting I really want a video about it

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

Very nice. And yes, part 2 please!

[@bones6448]

I'd love a part 2!

[@jebise6656]

its fine until the second sino-japanese war no way britian would just back china out of nowhere

[@inzyniertv9305]

Yes please make a part 2

[@wintersolider6415]

Plz part 2

[@ayushtiwari8870]

Make part 2

[@Mr.Fawn4153]

I'm a chinese supporters and this video is interesting PART 2

[@collaborisgaming2190]

What i learned: Dowager Cixi doomed China.

[@willikins5095]

Please do a part 2

[@sahilhossain8204]

Hmm yes alt historically accurate

[@raidiar2021]

Part2part2part2part2

[@trinstonmichaels7062]

Trinston was here ...

[@drained_yayo]

The glazing is absolutely insane 🙏😹💯💯💯

[@paulanderson4426]

What if the Byzantine won manzikert

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

I already did a Byzantine video quite recently. However I will put this on the list to do eventually.

[@misty7345]

First once again >;)

[@Aldhardt]

Part 2 m8.

[@emekaumeh3993]

Part 2!!!!

[@elitegamerftw6752]

What is the music that's playing?

[@evangamer5752]

The Chinese empire in the cold war

[@Exo88712]

Like the current china now

[@mister_dadstersays_hi7372]

Part. 2. Please. Do.

[@siyacer]

Interesting

[@siyacer]

woah

[@redshuttleredacted6422]

Part 2: WW2 is still the same but China gets to occupy Japan along with America and becomes an important US ally in the Cold War.

[@redshuttleredacted6422]

@Bilo If that is so, Germany invades the Soviet Union successfully and proceeds with Generalplan Ost. Britain would likely ally with Japan and America to prevent the Axis from taking the entirety of the Old World. They would get defeated however, similar to an Axis Victory timeline. China would most likely annex swathes of land in Siberia, and the rest of the Japanese Empire. Hong Kong and Portugal would be returned to China as reparations India would become independent because of German and Chinese intervention. Britain would be incorporated as a Reichskommissariat and the rest of its Empire partitioned by the Axis. The USA would most likely invade Canada to prevent it from falling into German hands. Soon after, a three-way cold war may develop between Germany, its Reichskommissariats, and European (and possibly South African) allies; China and its sphere of influence; and the rest of the remaining Free World (USA and rest of America, Australia, New Zealand).

[@rexwu7849]

I disagree with that. If China modernized this late in the game. The Axis would be very tempting for a newly modernized China. The Qing would be very much anti-communist. And during the pre war years Germany would've doubled down their efforts to help China modernize. Even back in our timeline people as lose to Hitler as Josef Geobbels at some point had inclinations towards China before Japan showed itself to be better modernized. If the Qing survived and they were modernized the Axis with their anti-communist leans would be very hard, and their pre war ties would be extremely hard to turn down.

[@rexwu7849]

I could see China waiting a little though until after the fall of France. They would be tied down pacifying Japan afterall but after Germany conquers France and China pacifies Japan. China would probably agree with the German plan to force Russia to fight a two front war.

[@rexwu7849]

Especially if Russia took half of Manchuria. The Germans would promise the return of all of Manchuria and a partition of Russian Siberia.

[@danielthebot4041]

part 2

[@WachowiczJoanna]

t

[@zes7215]

no such thing as dominate or assert or powerx or over or etc, pgskn infer1ix, cepu, do, be, dominx any nmw and any s perfect, just you are domxed

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

agreed

[@usuarionaoidentificado9918]

Does someone here speak illiterate?

[@goattier7728]

@@usuarionaoidentificado9918 i have no idea what that guy just said i thought he was speaking a foreign language

[@AKu-xs5vg]

based

[@Kiddo5010]

Bro what are you on about?

[@nubychuriz117]

Fun fact Qing isn't actually Chinese ,it's actually a Manchu dynasty,Manchu people were culturally identical to the mongols in every way except language and clothing, they're both nomadic unlike the Chinese,Manchu people spoke in their own language that wasn't Chinese nor Mongol,tho the Manchu people population probably doesn't exist anymore,Qing was overwhelmed by the Chinese just like the Yuan dynasty only difference is yuan is mongol and Qing is Manchu but mongols still exist today unlike the Manchu people

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

0:07 Also the Manchus are still around and there are even some who wish for independence form china

[@ThatAnnoyingAmerican]

@@papercat2599 By no means do all or even a majority want independence or even consider themselves separate. The Manchus have always been a small percent of the overall Chinese population seeing as the total population is massive. Despite this, saying that they no longer exist, or denying the fact that there are those who do desire independence, yes a very small percent but still a verifiably existent one, is incorrect.

[@egegeggegeeg4789]

the qing dynasty was not chinese, cause the manchus were "foreigner"? eh, that was before ethnostates, you know that kingdoms were pretty diverse, right? does not matter if he was "han" or not, they still ruled over the middle kingdom.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

I've got some Manchurian friends who would like a word with you. 😋

[@Sleeponacouch]

@@ThatAnnoyingAmerican When part 2

[@rinokumera5907]

Poor Taiwan

[@cristero2253]

Part 2!

[@danielthebot4041]

Part 2 pls