Ahir Shah

Normally on this show, the default answer is the British Empire. That's normally what happens, about 80%. Weirdly, on this one, it's America. Yeah, the United States. Which I was not expecting. The Americans show up in the 1850s, and it's a guy by the name of Commodore Matthew Perry, not the beloved actor from Friends. 1853, tell me the story, Satana.

Normally on this show, the default answer is the British Empire. That's normally what happens, about 80%. Weirdly, on this one, it's America. Yeah, the United States. Which I was not expecting. The Americans show up in the 1850s, and it's a guy by the name of Commodore Matthew Perry, not the beloved actor from Friends. 1853, tell me the story, Satana.

Okay, Ahir, we've got a picture actually we can show you. This is by an unknown artist. It's one of Matthew Perry's ships. Would you like to describe it for us?

Okay, Ahir, we've got a picture actually we can show you. This is by an unknown artist. It's one of Matthew Perry's ships. Would you like to describe it for us?

It's a black ship.

It's a black ship.

This is a depiction of a suspicious foreign power, Satana. Wow. That's the perception at the time. And once the Americans are sort of through the door, Britain are like, well, could we come in? You've done a deal with them and we're good at empires too. So the British, who else, Satana?

This is a depiction of a suspicious foreign power, Satana. Wow. That's the perception at the time. And once the Americans are sort of through the door, Britain are like, well, could we come in? You've done a deal with them and we're good at empires too. So the British, who else, Satana?

Ahir, if you were the government of the Shogunate of Japan, how would you respond to this influx of Western powers waving treaties in your face?

Ahir, if you were the government of the Shogunate of Japan, how would you respond to this influx of Western powers waving treaties in your face?

Satana, the really interesting thing is that the shogunate at this stage consults the emperor, who for 250 years has been sort of, you know, over there somewhere in Kyoto. But suddenly the shogun consults the emperor for his advice.

Satana, the really interesting thing is that the shogunate at this stage consults the emperor, who for 250 years has been sort of, you know, over there somewhere in Kyoto. But suddenly the shogun consults the emperor for his advice.

Oh, good name for a movement. Yeah, it is, isn't it? Two different policies in one movement. I like that.

Oh, good name for a movement. Yeah, it is, isn't it? Two different policies in one movement. I like that.

And so we've got all these domestic issues now in the 1860s. So we've got famines, angry peasants in the countryside, angry people in the cities, a bunch of foreign countries parking their warships on Japan's front lawn. Ahir, how would you solve this in the Ahir shogunate? I'm going to keep using that. Sorry, I'm very happy with it.

And so we've got all these domestic issues now in the 1860s. So we've got famines, angry peasants in the countryside, angry people in the cities, a bunch of foreign countries parking their warships on Japan's front lawn. Ahir, how would you solve this in the Ahir shogunate? I'm going to keep using that. Sorry, I'm very happy with it.

You'd say, well, just sort of farewell. Thanks very much. You have a go.

You'd say, well, just sort of farewell. Thanks very much. You have a go.

Okay, good. I mean, Satana, we're coming towards the Meiji Restoration. So do you want to talk us through the lead up to that?

Okay, good. I mean, Satana, we're coming towards the Meiji Restoration. So do you want to talk us through the lead up to that?