Geoffrey Acheampong 1/10/13

The fall of China

During the European medieval period (1000-1400), China was the most advanced nation in the world, and with its booming economy, the sky was the limit. Despite the bright future ahead of them, China started to decline and Europe emerged as leaders of the world. China’s belief in Confucian ideals limited trade, growth and innovation due to its strong belief in stability. Secondly, China’s system of trade wasn’t as effective as the Europe’s method of trade. Lastly, the opium war, addiction and the increase in corruption within the Chinese government gave Europe the upper hand.
Confucianism in China was one of the main reasons for the decline of China as the world’s most advanced countries. It prevented China from trading goods and services with other country, which wasn’t good for their economy. Confucius created a guide to proper behavior based on ethics, morals and principles. China didn’t believe in change and revolution, but believed in stability and not change us compared to Europe, which wanted to broaden their horizon, expand, share and display their innovations to the rest of the world. A prime example of China’s economic set backs was the tributary system. The tributary system was set in place to manage foreign relations between China and its satellite states. By providing the rules and controlling trade inside and among its neighboring countries, China dominated and found this system as an effective way of making sure everyone complied by their rules. This system was pleasing to the Chinese and to some extent to Confucius ideologies, as his teachings preached, through the five relationships. The emperor and official, father and son, husband and wife, and an older brother to a younger brother, the superior was to behave responsibly and kindly toward the inferior, and the inferior was to be obedient and loyal to the superior. This to the Chinese only meant one things, as the most powerful country, they were to be respected and adorned as Confucianism preached. The Chinese used Confucius’ instructions as a way of life. With Confucianism in the spine of the day-to-day life guaranteed one thing, there was no need for changed, stability is the main focus and therefore made them anti-change and growth. As the five relationships draws it out clearly, they believed everything was meant to be the way it is and not changed. With this attitude the European nations slowly but surely surpassed China as the world leaders and opened themselves to change, growth and innovation. China’s trade system wasn’t the most efficient and easily accessible to other countries that wanted to indulge in trade with china. China in the first place saw no need in trade. They produced, used and consumed whatever they made with no intension of indulging in trade with the Europeans. With persistence from the Europeans the canton system was opened. The canton system only allowed one port, which meant there was only one area exposed to the outside world. The design of the system was restrictive by its nature, keeping foreigner merchants and businessmen confined to a small commercial district in Canton prohibiting direct contact between foreigners and the Chinese. From the get go, the Chinese government officials were concerned of European influence upon the people which inevitably meant the their way of life would be changed. In order to keep its citizens in the little bubble, which they termed to be, the “ideal” way of life, the government sort ways to limit European activities and productivity in Canton. Their concerns were not groundless. They feared that the European influence would change and have an impact on the traditions and ways of life of the Chinese people. The merchants were forbidden to associate directly with Chinese people and they were not allowed to learn the Chinese language. The canton system in itself made it hard enough for the