East Asia under Challenge

1. East Asia under Challenge

2. Warm-up • Warm-up • Put a box around • Date it • Write the question • Have you heard of the word dynasty? • Do you know what the word dynasty means? • Also, the name of the unit in the book is called “East Asia under Challenge”… Predict what this unit will be about

4. Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of hereditary rulers

5. China – a very brief history • The Chinese are one of the first civilizations in history. • Their system of Dynastic government was established as early as 221 BC and lasted over 2000 years • Dynasties in China were headed by an Emperor, who was the European equivalent of an Absolute Monarch • The Chinese writing system dates back almost 4,000 years

6. 19th Century China • During the 19th century the Qing dynasty (also known as the Ch’ing dynasty) ruled. • This time proved turbulent for China, as the Qing dynasty suffered from corruption and many peasants died from starvation due to a huge population boom • China had engaged in protectionism, which is an economic policy that taxes foreign goods

7. The Beginning of the Opium Wars • Europeans therefore had a trade imbalance with the Chinese, in which they imported more goods than they exported • The British began shipping opium into China, a highly addictive narcotic, similar to present day heroin. However, opium was illegal in China. • The Chinese appealed to the British to halt their opium trade into China based on morality & the British refused.

8. The First Opium War (1839-1842) The Chinese blockaded British ships from entering the port of Guangzhou The British responded with force, and their superior navy easily destroyed Chinese coastal and river forts. To avoid the sacking of their capital, the Chinese agreed to the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842

9. The Treaty of Nanjing (1842) • Chinese agreed to: • open up 5 coastal ports to British trade • Limit taxes on British imports • Pay for the costs of the Opium War • Cede the island of Hong Kong to the British