For thousands of years, Asia has led the world in technology and thought. Millions of people in those years followed the teachings of the Vedic religion, Buddhist thought or Confucian philosophy. These societies consolidated their power in the first centuries of the Anno Domini and even boasted self-sufficient power until the 15th century. In the West, however, nations grew up with a different heritage of thought that soon infiltrated the Eastern world. Although their influence seemed minor in such a developed world, in the 20th century Western political relations and philosophy became part of Asian reality. In the writings of two influential thinkers in modern Asia, Mao Zedong and Mahatma Gandhi, the existence of Western thought is clear. Specific Western philosophy helped define and promote both Mao's and Gandhi's beliefs; such sensitivity towards these lines of thought can be found deeply rooted in the history of China and India. Qing China was a place of dynamic success and power. Beginning in 1644, the dynasty began as others had done, with foreign control. But non-Chinese rule has not prevented the country's success. The Qing emperors quickly began to expand the territory. Under Qianlong's rule, just under a hundred years into the Qing reign, China boasted the largest amount of territory and surplus the country had ever seen before. Their tax system was so efficient that taxes were sometimes written off throughout the kingdom due to surplus assets. Soon, China showed massive population growth. In 1600, forty-four years before Qing control, China had a population of 160 million souls. In 1700 the population remained at 160, but within 50 years the population rose to 225 million. Even in the face of a massive increase in population......middle of paper......hand of the Chinese model, capitalism and imperialism and moved towards communism. Gandhi experienced the diversity of his country, but hated the effect of civilization so prevalent in Western belief. Asia, in meeting the West, was shaped by it. Mao and Gandhi prove it. Their stories continue, India will be freed from British control and Moa will put his communist hopes into practice. The success and failure of these events are still discussed today, but it is clear that the East did not become West nor the West became East, rather they were both changed, the effect of this new world is still being discovery.BibliographyCheek, Timothy, trans. Mao Zedong and the Chinese Revolutions: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002.Gandhi, Mahatma. Hind Swaraj. http://www.mkgandhi.org/swarajya/coverpage.htm (accessed March 24, 2014).