The document summarizes the history of relations between China and European powers like Britain from the 15th century onwards. It led to the two Opium Wars between Britain and China in the mid-19th century. The wars were caused by misunderstandings between the two sides, British greed in trading opium to China for profits, and imperialism. As a result of the wars, China was defeated and forced to concede territory like Hong Kong while opening itself up to foreign trade.

1. The Opium Wars
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2. Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
• Voyages of Zheng He (1405-1435)
• Isolationist Policy
• Early contact Portuguese and Dutch (1500’s)

3. Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
• Centralized government
• Feudal economy
• Reached zenith in mid 1700’s

4. Chinese world view
• China centre of civilized world
• China superior to all other nations
• Foreigners not worth much attention
• Tribute system – gifts and kowtowing

5. Early European Trading Missions
• Portuguese reached China in 1517
• Sent mission to Bejing in 1520-1521
– Portuguese viewed mission as friendly meeting of
equals
– Chinese recorded it as Portuguese paying tribute
• 1550’s Macau used as Portuguese trading post
• Dutch established in Taiwan in 1620’s

6. Establishment of Canton
• European maritime trade allowed to grow
from 1760 but was
– Centralised in Canton
– Overseen by Chinese officials
– Taxed

8. British Trade with China
• China had goods England wanted
– Silk
– Tea
• China did not want
any goods England
had to offer

10. British Delegation to Bejing
• 1793 – British delegation to Bejing from
George III
• England sent presents
– Poor quality in comparison with splendour of
Chinese court
• Wanted permission to establish trading ports
other than Canton

11. Two Different Views
• British saw delegation as diplomatic mission of
equals
• Chinese saw delegation as paying tribute to
the Emperor

12. Opium
• British East India Company able to
procure opium from India
• Immense profits from trade in China
–selling opium to Chinese
–selling tea and silk in England

17. Chinese reaction to Opium Trade
• Increasing numbers of Chinese addicts as
trade grew
• Death penalty for those who smoke or
smuggle opium
• Lin Zexu's letter to Queen Victoria
– Appeal for cessation of opium trade
– Some doubt if Queen Victoria ever read this letter

20. Chinese Action on Opium
• Lui sent by Emperor to deal with Opium trade
in Canton
• Lui destroyed opium by mixing it with lime
and tipping it into a creek

21. British Reaction
• 1st Opium War - 1839-1843
• 2nd Opium War – 1856-1860

23. Causes of Opium War
• Misunderstanding
• Greed
• Imperialism

24. Consequences
• China defeated
• Forced to sign humiliating treaty
• Conceded Hong Kong
• British trading ports opened along Chinese
coast

29. Questions on Sources
1. According to Source A, what products did the British want from China?
2. In Source A, what does “beneficence” mean?
3. What Chinese institutional framework is the Qianlong Emperor using in his relations
with the British in Source A? Give evidence. How does this differ to the British view?
4. Who wrote Source B? When? What was the author’s purpose in writing Source B?
5. According to Source B, what was the justification in the Chinese destroying the
20,000 chests of opium?
6. Given that the British eventually retaliated with violence, what was the British
viewpoint on the destruction of the opium by Lui?
7. Why do think the Chinese and British viewpoints differ?
8. Compare Source C with the Chinese Emperor's reply to Lord Macartney in Source A.
What sort of rights did the Chinese give to the British that they previously refused
to give?
9. Refer to Source D. Describe what you can see.
10. Did the Treaty of Nanjing (Source C) bring a lasting peace? Give your reasons.
11. Extension: If the word "imperialism" is defined as "the policy of seeking to
dominate the affairs of weaker countries”, do you think Chinese today are justified
in saying that China suffered from Western "imperialism" begun by the British?