The best assessment of obstacles to Japan's industrialization during the nineteenth century is that Japan lacked natural resources and navigable rivers. This hindered Japan's ability to develop industries and expand economically during that time.
1. **Natural Resources**: Japan faced challenges due to its limited availability of natural resources such as coal, iron ore, and oil. These resources are essential for industrialization as they are needed for manufacturing and powering industries. Without an abundant supply of these resources, Japan had to rely on imports, making industrialization more difficult and expensive.
2. **Navigable Rivers**: In addition to the scarcity of natural resources, Japan's lack of navigable rivers posed a challenge. Navigable rivers are crucial for transportation of goods and materials essential for industrial growth. Without well-developed river systems, transporting goods across the country becomes more complicated and costly, further impeding industrialization efforts.
By understanding these obstacles, we can see how Japan's geographical limitations impacted its industrialization process, highlighting the importance of natural resources and transportation infrastructure in economic development.
