Stríð Japana og Rússa 1904-1905. Upphaf, átök og afleiðingar

In this thesis I have explored the origins of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, how it proceeded and its results as it appears in available scholarly works in the English language. Not perhaps unexpectedly it seems the conflict can trace its roots to at least two sources, the adoption of Western technology and ideals in Japan after its re-opening to the rest of the world in the middle of the 19th century and the constant expansion of Russian territories in the East. The introduction of Western military technology and expansionist ideology meant that Japan started to have designs on territories outside its geographic boundaries, which were already under Russian influence or occupation. Discussions between the two countries to provide an amicable solution eventually proved fruitless which led to a war. Japanese forces eventually triumphed militarily over the Russian after a fighting for over 15 months, though it would take four more months until a peace agreement was signed. The battles seemed to prove that the recently modernized Japanese armed forces were superior in most regards compared to the Russian. Results of the war destabilized the balance of power between the imperial powers of Europe and America which is likely to have contributed to the start of the First World War. However the lessons of the military conflict were largely applied haphazardly or were ignored at the start of that war. The Japanese victory also kindled hope of freedom for colonized natives in Asia and elsewhere