Setting the Scene in China

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): Read or click on arrow to listen.

The Ming Dynasty looked to agriculture to be the source of the empire's wealth. This created a pro peasant movement that afforded more land, prosperity, and opportunities for the peasants. Because of this shift away from industry, the merchant class suffered with higher taxes and less government support. Eventually, the merchant class would begin to prosper with a renewed interest in industry and trade.

During the early Ming Dynasty, a great amount of commodities - including crops, silk, alcohol, porcelain, tobacco, vegetable and fruits - were sold in the market. Meanwhile, many foreign commodities such as clocks from Europe and tobacco from America were on sale in many cities of China.

About the year 1500, the dynasty had an isolationist policy towards trade. Private foreign trade was outlawed, so illegal trading abounded. The officially sanctioned trading was only allowed in three ports. Even the Japanese were allowed in one designated port only once every ten years.

The Qing Dynasty (1644-1912): Read or click on arrow to listen.

During the late Ming period, the government was weak and the throne was in danger. Not only was there an uprising by Han people, there were also invasions of the Mongolians from the North and the Manchus from the Northeast. After much struggle, the dynasty collapsed and the Manchus succeeded in ruling China and founded the Qing dynasty. The Qing emperors accepted the Han Chinese language as the official language and used the Han people to govern the country. The early Qing emperors were very capable and intelligent.

The Manchu Conquest

In 1644, the victorious Manchu armies seized Beijing and made it their capital.
The Manchus set up a new dynasty called the Qing.
China’s borders were expanded to rule the largest area in the nation’s history.
New crops from the Americas - such as potatoes and corn - boosted farm output, which in turn contributed to a population boom.
The Qing dynasty turned out to be the world’s greatest empire.

The period of peace that followed the ascension of the Qing Dynasty allowed for growth in all areas. Public works were repaired and maintained. Taxes were very light as compared to previous dynasties, and if famine struck, taxes were reduced even further. Commerce and international trade grew. This peace allowed for a revival of arts and learning.

Europeans who reached Asia in the 1500s often made poor impressions on locals.

Asians thought that Europeans were…

Ignorant
Lacked an ordered life
Very dirty
Had no manners

Europeans, however, were impressed with who and what they found in East Asia.

European Trade with China: Read or click on arrow to listen.

The Portuguese reached China by sea in 1514. To the Chinese, the foreigners had little to offer in exchange for silks and porcelains. European textiles and metalwork were inferior to Chinese products. Therefore, the Chinese demanded payment in gold or silver.

Restrictions on Trade

Direct oceanic trade between China and Europe began during the sixteenth century. At first, it was dominated by the Portuguese and the Spanish, who brought silver from the Americas to exchange for Chinese silks. Later, they were joined by the British and the Dutch. Initially, trading took place at several ports along the Chinese coast, but gradually the state limited Western trade to the southern port of Canton (Guangzhou).

The British began to try to expand their trade opportunities in China and establish Western-style diplomatic relations with the Chinese. This brought them immediately into conflict with the Chinese government,

King George III (1738-1820) of England sent Macartney to convince the Qianlong emperor to open northern port cities to British traders and to allow British ships to be repaired on Chinese territory. Macartney arrived in North China in a warship with a retinue of 95, an artillery of 50 redcoats, and 600 packages of magnificent presents that required 90 wagons, 40 barrows, 200 horses, and 3,000 porters to carry them to Peking. Yet, the best gifts England had to offer — elaborate clocks, globes, porcelain — seemed insignificant beside the splendors of the Asian court. Qianlong rejected the request for trading rights.

At the time, Qianlong's attitude seemed justified by China's successes. After all, he already ruled the world's greatest empire. Why would he negotiate with a nation as distant as Britain? In the long run, his policy proved disastrous. In the 1800s, China would learn about western advancements--especially military technology--the hard way.

Emperor Qainlong

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