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
Turn notebook to a new page,

Create a new assignment title:
 “Social
Darwinism and the White Man’s Burden”
Sample Learning Check Questions:
1.
Describe one major effect of the Treaty of
Nanjing:

2.
China surrendered Hong Kong to the British for
the next 150 years.
Which countries were involved in fighting the
Boxer Rebellion?

UK, France, Germany, Russia, Austro-Hungary,
Italy, America
Notes: The Century of Humiliation

From 200BC to the present
day, it has been the norm for
China to be the world’s most
powerful country.

However, from 1840-1949,
China became a weak vassal
for European trading
companies and Japanese
colonialism.
Why was China vulnerable?
1.
A period of isolation cut off
China from diffusion.
2.
The corrupt Qing Dynasty
only had marginal control
over the country.
3.
The Chinese fleet had
become miniscule.
The Great Divergence

While Europe was on the path to industry, China
went towards isolation.

Unlike Europe or the Middle East, China was
entirely self-sufficient.
 This
means that it produced enough food, raw
resources, and manufactured products to sustain
its population.
Yuan Dynasty: 1271-1368

In 1271, China was conquered by
the Mongols.

The Mongol rulers of the Yuan
Dynasty did a few things that
deeply upset the native Han
Chinese.
Only Mongols were allowed to hold
high offices.
 Muslims from Central Asia were often
used as administrators.
 The Chinese were forced to conduct
trade.

Chinese Isolation: 1450-1800

After their experiences with the
Mongols, Chinese society in the Early
Modern period developed a distrust of
foreigners.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),
China began to turn away from trade.
 The
Imperial Fleet declined massively
 Trade
was restricted to only a few ports
Notebook response

Think about the concept of diffusion and think
about the period of 1450-1800.

Why was it a disadvantage for China to be cut
off from the rest of the world?
Qing Corruption

The last imperial dynasty of China
lasted from 1644-1912.

By the mid 1700s, just as Europeans
were beginning to show up, it was in
deep trouble.
Qing Corruption
The government had committed to a
system of low taxes that had put the
government in a state of constant
debt crisis.
 There was almost no oversight of
local officials so many took bribes.
 Famine and rebellion were extremely
common. Between 1850-1877, 20
million people died in wars between
the government and locals.

Notebook response

How would this particular government be
vulnerable to imperialism?
Decline of the Navy

The Chinese army was massive,
even during the Qing Dynasty.

China had been neglecting its
navy since the 15th century.

In 1800, the Chinese war fleet was
small and mostly composed of
single-deck wooden ships.
Decline of the Navy

The Chinese fleet proved to be of
almost no threat to European
armored frigates and later
Ironclads.

As a result, European powers
dominated China’s eastern
coasts but had very little
influence inland.
Why was China vulnerable?
1.
A period of isolation cut off
China from diffusion.
2.
The corrupt Qing Dynasty
only had marginal control
over the country.
3.
The Chinese fleet had
become miniscule.
Task: Unequal Treaties Timeline

Make a timeline from 1840 to 1940

Mark each treaty on timeline. Also record:
 Which
 The

nations signed the treaty
2-3 most major effects of the treaty.
Treaties:
 Nanking
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Shimonoseki

Wanghia
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The Boxer Protocol
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Tientsin

The 21 Demands