MACARTNEYS EXPEDITION

• 1. Why was Portsmouth important?

  • Naval Base
  • Shipbuilding
  • Historical Significance
  • Trade and Commerce
  • Military Importance
  • Cultural and Tourist Destination
• • Naval Base

  • Portsmouth served as a crucial naval base for the British Royal Navy, providing strategic access to the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. It played a significant role in protecting British interests and projecting power globally
• Shipbuilding


  The city had a long-standing tradition of shipbuilding, producing warships and merchant vessels for the navy and commercial purposes. Its shipyards contributed to the strength and expansion of the British fleet
• Historical Significance


  Portsmouth has a rich maritime history, dating back centuries. It was the departure point for famous voyages and naval expeditions, including the sailing of the Mary Rose and the historic journey of HMS Victory under Admiral Nelson
• Trade and Commerce


  As a port city, Portsmouth facilitated trade and commerce, serving as a hub for goods and passengers traveling to and from Britain
• Military Importance

  Due to its strategic location, Portsmouth played a crucial role in various military operations and conflicts throughout history, including during the Napoleonic Wars and both World Wars
• Cultural and Tourist Destination

  Portsmouth's maritime heritage and historical landmarks, such as the Historic Dockyard and the Spinnaker Tower, attract tourists and visitors interested in naval history and heritage tourism
• 1. Where was the economic center of the world at the end of the eighteenth century?


  • Western Europe, particularly in cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Paris. These cities were hubs of trade, finance, and industry, driving economic growth and innovation during the period. The rise of mercantilism, colonialism, and the Industrial Revolution contributed to the dominance of Western European economies on the global stage
• 1. Why were Europeans more interested in trade with China than the Chinese were in trade with Europe?

  • Europeans were more interested in trade with China due to the high demand for Chinese goods such as tea, silk, porcelain, and spices in Europe
  • China had a long history of advanced civilization, technological innovation, and cultural richness, making its goods highly sought after in Europe
  • The Chinese, on the other hand, had less interest in European goods and limited demand for them, as they viewed their own products as superior and had a self-sufficient economy
• European powers in the Indian Ocean (other than Britain)


  • Portugal
  • Netherlands
  • France
• Roles of European powers in the Indian Ocean (other than Britain) in the global economy


  • Established early trading posts and colonies in Asia
  • Controlled key trade routes
  • Monopolized the spice trade
  • Dominated trade in the East Indies, particularly in spices, textiles, and coffee
  • Had colonial possessions in the Indian Ocean, primarily in India and the islands of Mauritius and Réunion
  • Engaged in trade and established plantations
• 1. Why did Lord Macartney travel to China?


  • Lord Macartney traveled to China in 1793 on a diplomatic mission aimed at establishing better trade relations and securing trade concessions from the Chinese Emperor, particularly access to Chinese markets for British goods
• 1. Did Macartney succeed? Why or why not?


  • Macartney's mission was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its primary objectives
  • The Chinese Emperor, Qianlong, rejected Macartney's requests for expanded trade and diplomatic relations, maintaining China's policy of isolation and self-sufficiency
  • The refusal to grant British trade concessions contributed to tensions between China and Britain and eventually led to the Opium Wars
• How industrialization changed the modes and locations of production from 1750 to 1900


  1. Mechanization of production processes

  2. Shifting from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing

  3. Factories emerged as the primary locations of production

  4. Concentrating labor and machinery in urban centers

  5. Specialization and division of labor increased efficiency

  6. Mass production of goods

  7. Growth of urbanization as people migrated from rural areas to cities for factory employment

  8. Global spread of industrialization led to development of new industrial centers beyond Europe (e.g. US, Japan)

  9. Transforming economies and societies worldwide
• • How were British and Chinese society similar in 1793? 

  • Both societies were organized hierarchically, with clear social classes and structures
  • Both had established systems of governance: Britain under a constitutional monarchy and China under an imperial system
  • Agriculture was a central part of the economy in both societies, although industrialization was more advanced in Britain
  • Both societies had distinct cultural traditions and customs, shaping daily life and social interactions
• Britain in 1793

  Experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to significant social and economic changes
• China in 1793


  Remained predominantly agrarian and rural
• British society in 1793


  • Increasing urbanization
  • Growing middle class
  • Industrial workforce
• Chinese society in 1793

  • More rural-based
  • Large agricultural population
• Britain in 1793


  • Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system
• China in 1793


  • Ruled by an emperor and governed by a centralized bureaucracy
• Britain in 1793


  Actively engaged in global trade and colonial expansion
• China in 1793


  Followed a policy of isolationism and self-sufficiency, limiting foreign trade and contact
• British society in 1793


  • Greater religious diversity and freedom
• Chinese society in 1793


  • Influenced by Confucianism and had a more homogenous cultural and religious landscape
• Macartney's Expedition, led by Lord Macartney, was a diplomatic mission sent by the British government to China in 1793. Its main goal was to establish better trade relations and secure trade concessions from the Chinese Emperor, Qianlong. Lord Macartney hoped to persuade the Emperor to open up Chinese markets to British goods. However, the mission was ultimately unsuccessful, as the Emperor refused to grant the requested concessions, maintaining China's policy of isolation and self-sufficiency