CHINA: Hist. Geog.-
The 19th Century

 Despite internal upheavals from time to time, China always emerged stronger despite mostly dictatorial rule during its history.  The continuity of Chinese culture, philosophies (i.e., Kongfuzi) and its geographic isolation have all reinforced an air of superiority.  This superiority was enhanced further due to China’s superior silks, cottons and other hand made goods.  Not until mass-produced goods from Europe’s industrial revolution overwhelmed China’s handicraft industries were European goods able to penetrate China’s economy.

 In some instances efforts to trade with China resulted in less than honorable methods by European powers.  The British wanted to trade with China; but in order to pay for the valuable goods they wanted, they had to have something to sell China.  China’s refusal to accept inferior European products resulted in the British smuggling in Opium.  When the Chinese confiscated the illegal drugs, the British attacked China and the Opium War (1839-1842) was underway.  This war proved disastrous to China, with its subsequent defeat and favorable treaty negotiation to the British, which established treaty ports.  Foreigners could not only trade but could also enjoy the privileges of home without being subject to Chinese laws.  These treaty ports became colonial enclaves of foreigners and eventually nearly 100 of these were established.  French, Russian, German and later Japanese (the latter the most ruinous foreign influence) spheres of influence were established in China.  The foreign invaders even fought among themselves on Chinese soil as Russia and Japan did in 1904-1905 with Japan ultimately victorious, which helped itself to Manchuria in the northeast.  This example of extraterritoriality which allowed foreign countries to be immune from Chinese law resulted in the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 in which the Chinese tried to expel foreigners from their land.  Ultimately this too failed, and by 1911, the Manchu Dynasty fell.

 [The text of the above was written by Scott Girhard, San Antonio College from his online course GEOG 1301 World Geography. Used with permission.]