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Jan 1, 1184
Extraterritoriality Case Studies in Shanghai(Shanghai French Concession)
Areas of land in Shanghai were given to the French where they did not have to follow the local Chinese laws. Later on, there were international settlements, like the Shanghai International Settlement, which originated from the defeat of the Chinese in the Opium Wars. -
Jan 1, 1516
The Portuguese First Arrive in Canton(Ocean Devils)
The Portuguese began trading with China and other Asian countries, but they began to also attack and raid Chinese ships earning the nickname "Ocean Devils". Relations with Europeans continued to worsen especially after Mcartney's visit to the Chinese Emperor in which the Chinese emperor did not allow the British to trade with them. -
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Canton Trade System
All foreign trade had to go through the hong merchants who had been given licenses to trade by the Chinese government. As a result, the hong merchants became very rich. -
Opium Wars
The Opium Wars began because the Chinese prohibited opium in China from 1836-1839. However, the British still wanted to trade opium and this led to a war between the two countries. -
Treaty of Nanking
England was given the rights to Hong Kong in 1841 as compensation for the war but the First Opium War officially ended on August 29, 1842. In addition, China had to open up other ports for trade. -
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Taiping Rebellion
A rebellion against the Chinese goernment, started by Hung Hsiu-Ch'üan, that killed 60 million people. He wanted to overthrow the Manchu, the rulers at the time, because he believed overthrowing them would bring forth the kingdom of God. -
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Self Strengthening Movement
The Self Strenghthening Movement was a reform that involved the learning of Western technology and ideas and applying it, but keeping to their old system of beliefs and mentality. The reform failed because the Chinese did not recognize the importance of political institutions and social theories. -
One Hundred Days of Reform
The Chinese emperor at the time asked K'ang Yu Wei to take over the government and K'ang made new edicts which began changing China into a more modern and constitional state. -
Boxer Rebellion Protocol
When an international European force captured Beijing, they forced China to agree to humiliating terms such as suspension of civil serice exams, prosecution of government officials, and suspending all armed imports into China. This was the result of the Boxer Rebellion which wanted the Europeans out of the country who already held railway leases and commercial privlileges in China.