Russo-Japanese Wars

Definition

The Russo-Japanese War was a military conflict fought between the Russian Empire and Japan from 1904 to 1905 over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea.

Analogy

Think of the Russo-Japanese War as two high school football teams (Russia and Japan) fighting over who gets to use the best practice fields (Manchuria and Korea). Both want control because it gives them an advantage, but only one can come out on top.

Related terms

Manchuria: A region located in Northeast Asia, historically contested by both Russia and China due to its strategic location and resources.

Korea: A peninsula in East Asia that was a point of contention during the Russo-Japanese war due to its strategic location between China, Japan, and Russia.

Treaty of Portsmouth: The peace treaty signed in 1905 that ended the Russo-Japanese War. It recognized Japan's dominance over Korea and ceded parts of Manchuria to Japan.