China during the Ming and Qing Empires

Notes: Chapter 17.1 – 17.2

Ming Foreign Policy

Early Ming dynasty – very advanced sailors1405 – Reached India1415 – Reached Southern Coast of Arabian Peninsula Later Ming Emperors had little interest in sea-power or foreign trade

Ming Foreign Policy (cont.)

Defeated the Mongols in 1368Restored Confucianism Wanted China to be self-sufficientFocused on protecting the Northern Frontier Chose frontier defense over trade and sea travel

Founding the Qing Dynasty

1644, the Manchu captured Beijing

Qing Emperors adopted Chinese culture

Also tried to keep the Manchu people separate and distinct from the Chinese

Ruled until 1912

Decline of the Qing Dynasty

Faced problems of over-population

Corruption and government inefficiency became commonplace

1796 – White Lotus Rebellion

The Portuguese

1514 – Portuguese ships reached the southeastern coast of China

Many Jesuit missionaries arrived

Jesuits’ power aroused jealousy and concern among some Chinese leaders

Emperors denounced Christianity as anti-Confucian

The BritishThe British East India Company monopolized new trade in Chinese teas

Many British felt the need for Free Trade with China

1793 and 1816, British officials asked the Chinese government to open more ports

1833, British abolished the British East India Company’s monopoly

The Opium TradeBritish switched from trading Cotton to trading Opium with China The Chinese Government became very alarmed 1839-1842, Opium War 1842 – Treaty of Nanjing British enforced a policy of extraterritoriality Chinese continued to sign “unequal” treaties

RebellionsHong Xiuquan began to lead a revolt

1850-1864, Taiping Rebellion

Late 1870s, Qing finally put down these rebellions.

Seriously weakened both Qing dynasty and the nation as a whole