China

The Portuguese had reached India and southeast Asia. Then sailed to China, hoping to expand their trading empire

Europe’s powerful nations were emerging and would challenge China’s proud image of its self.

Chinas relationship with the west is changing because The Qing dynasty entered a long period of decline. And Europe industrializes which allows them to have more power

The Europeans refuse to kowtow or bow low to the chinese emperor. To Kowtow is a symbol that showed foreigners accepted their inferior status

(late 1700's) Britain began to sell opium that was grown in India to China. Other western nations also entered the Opium trade. by the early 1800's the Chinese were addicted to the drug but the trade drained the supply of silver which was used to pay for the drug. The Chinese government tried to stop the illegal drug trade by passing harsh laws those who smuggled or used the drug faced death penaltys. Then in 1839 the Chinese destroyed a British shipment of opium, and war broke out

The treaty of Nanjing ended the war, it was the first of many unequal treaties. In it the chinese accepted British terms for peace. the emperor agreed to pay for the opium that was destroyed. he also agreed to five Britain the is;and of Hong Kong and to open other ports to British rule

Began in 1851 and lasted for 14 years. more then 20 million people were killed in this struggle. Even though the Qing Dynasty crushed the rebels, the fighting further weakened the dynastyy

By the late 1800's the western powers had carved up China into spheres of influence. an Sphere of influence is an area in which a foreign nation had special economic privileges, such as the right to build railroads and factories

Japan adopted western technology and modernized it industries

By 1895 strong Japan was able to defeat China in the Sino-Japanese war. and as a result, Japan won Formosa (present day Taiwan) and also extended its influence in Korea.