18th Century China and the World (Volume on Foreign Relations)

Author: Wu Jianrong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-06-01
Features: This volume is the foreign relations section of "China and the World in the 18th Century." If other volumes compare the social development of China and the world during this specific historical period, this volume directly discusses the connections between China and the world, as well as the impact of these connections on the early Qing society. The author does not intend to write a comprehensive history of early Qing foreign relations but plans to focus on significant events that influenced the social progress of China, revealing and elaborating on them to capture the main historical threads and avoid unnecessary tangents. The Sino-Western relations in the 18th century included both cultural exchanges and the arrival of envoys. The former is already covered in the cultural volume, so there is no need for further elaboration. The latter, however, was limited in number and similar to tributary missions. Except for the Macartney Embassy, it did not have a profound impact. In stark contrast, trade between the Qing Dynasty and Western countries was continuous, profoundly affecting the economy, politics, and society of both sides, ultimately altering the balance of power. This is the reason why this volume focuses on commercial relations in addition to Sino-Western relations.