Question

Imagine that you are an adviser to either China’s emperor or Japan’s shogun in the early thirteenth century. Write a letter advising the ruler whether you support a policy of isolation or engagement. Explain your reasons for supporting that policy. Your letter should be three paragraphs and each paragraph should discuss one reason for supporting or opposing isolation.

Answer 1

Dear Majesty:

We are a great country that has grown thanks to the braveness of our people and the wise and intelligent leadership of your Highness. We have proved to be better in many aspects to our neighbors. However, our empire is in danger if we don't open our nation to trade with these other countries that come to us.

We don´t know about those countries and we don´t know what weapons they might have and how many men would be involved in an eventual attemp to attack our nation. If it important to know if they are really our friends or the are just pretending to be so.

It is imperative that we have a close vigilance of these nations. We have to try to know what their real intentions are. If we keep with our isolation policy, the most probable result is that we could  get involved in a war with an unknown enemy.  

This is all that I can say hoping to be heard by your Highness.