During the period 1400-1900, the region of East Asia underwent some dramatic changes economically and socially, while remaining mainly the same from a political aspect. From 1400-1900, the region of East Asia saw in a increase in imports from Western nations while experiencing an increase in industrialization. Also during this span of time, the region saw an end to strict and oppressive social hierarchies. Although the region experienced such changes, it remained characterized by strong central governments battling internal rebellions and external threats and maintained its strong roots of the early religion/ideology of Confucianism. ! From 1400-1900, East Asia experienced an increase in imports from Western nations while undergoing the process of industrialization. In Japan, the annual average of silk production increased by approximately 6000 tons between 1868-1899. Coal, used for industrial steamships and railroads, production increased from .6 million metric tons in 1875 to 5 metric tons by 1895(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration). We see such increases in industrialization because the Japanese elite initiated economic reforms under the Meiji Restoration in order to industrialize Japan in hopes of catching up to more dominant Western countries that were dominating the world politically and economically. During this period we also see an increase in East Asian trade with Western nations. In China, we see an increase in opium imports from Britain. This change occurs because China was forced to open trade to European countries after losing the 1st Opium War against Britain after its population had become dependent on an opium addiction. In Japan, we an increase in foreign imports from 1860 to 1865 of 13.34 million Mexican dollars(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opening_of_Japan). This was due to forced opening of Japanʼs trading “doors” by a US naval fleet