Imperialism & Trade
How can our dynasty alter its whole procedure and system of etiquette, established for more than a century, in order to meet your individual views?"-Letter from Emperor Qian Long to George III
By the 1800s, highly industrialized European nations emerged as Imperial powers and colonized Asia and Africa for their economic interests.
Europea colonialism, 1822
Interview with Clayton Dube who discusses the trading terms in the Qing Empire, excerpt from the documentary, "China's Century of Humiliation
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The Western Imperial powers had not yet penetrated through the wall of cultural superiority of the Qing Empire. Chinese Canton Trading System restricted and confined Western European merchants in the port of Canton.
"In their estimation the Western traders were barbarians of low degree; they were traders, the lowest class of Chinese civilization, where mankind was divided into four main groups-- scholars, then in descending quality farmers, workmen, and, last of all, merchants. That the Emperor and government made much profit from the taxes paid on barbarian trade had no softening effect whatever on their opinion of the barbarians."-China Only Yesterday, 1850-1950: A Century of Change, by Emily Hahn |
McCartney's Mission of 1793, Britain's diplomatic measure to open China, completely failed.
"You, O King, live beyond the confines of many seas, nevertheless, impelled by your humble desire to partake of the benefits of our civilisation, you have dispatched a mission respectfully bearing your memorial...It is true that Europeans, in the service of the dynasty, have been permitted to live at Peking, but they are compelled to adopt Chinese dress, they are strictly confined to their own precincts and are never permitted to return home...Moreover, our Celestial dynasty possesses vast territories, and tribute missions from the dependencies are provided for by the Department for Tributary States, which ministers to their wants and exercises strict control over their movements..Europe consists of many other nations besides your own: if each and all demanded to be represented at our Court, how could we possibly consent? The thing is utterly impracticable. How can our dynasty alter its whole procedure and system of etiquette, established for more than a century, in order to meet your individual views?"-Letter from Emperor Qian Long to George III