HISTORY 1DD3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Hong Xiuquan, Biblioteca Europea Di Informazione E Cultura, Lin Zexu
23 Oct 2017
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Document Summary
China was forced into a series of unequal treaties because they were militarily inferior. These treaties undermined chinese sovereignty and carved china into spheres of influence. This lead to economic exploitation, and a handicap in ability to deal with domestic disorder. The elites were caught between aggressive foreigners and insurgent rebels, and tried to make reforms to preserve the dynasty, but these reforms had little impact: guangzhou. 1759 was the only waterfront in china where foreign influence was allowed. At this time, it was the chinese that had control over the merchants and terms: cohongs. Foreign merchants could only deal with specially licensed chinese firms called cohongs. Cohongs operated under strict regulation set by the govt. and had set prices. European products did not do much for the chinese, and therefore most trade for. Chinese silk, porcelain, tea, etc, was done with silver bullion (money): opium trade.
