Treaty of Nanking
1. Manchu dynasty (1644-1911)
- Powerful and prosperous empire
- Policy of isolation
- Restrictions on foreign trade
- 1800's: conditions changed
- Population grew to 300 million
- Regular shortage of food (because of floods and draughts)
- Peasant rebellions, social unrest
- Corruption: officials took money from the public funds => raised taxes => Rebellions
2. European imperialism
- Opium war (1840-1842)
- Treaty of Nanking:
- China agreed to: - receive foreign diplomats
- open ports to trade
- let the British determine tariffs
- the right of extraterritoriality (British laws against British people in China)
- International unrest: The Taiping rebellion (Taip-ing tien kuo = Heavenly Kingdom of Peace)
- widespread peasant uprising (inspired by some ancient Chinese traditions and ideals of Christianity)
- demanded: -redistribution of land to poor peasants
- end of high taxes
- equality for men and women
- European powers helped the Manchu dynasty => peasants were defeated, BUT: -China was weakened => needed reforms
China's concessions (had to open more ports; had to legalise opium trade)
- Sphere of influence (Br., Fr., R., Ch. investors)
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