Differences Between Britain And China During The 18th Century

During the 18th century, Britain was trying to deal with China through diplomacy and economic reason in a way to make the Canton Trade system fair for both sides. Trade between the British and the Chinese was severely lopsided in China 's favour during the end of the 18th century. The reasons for this trade imbalance in China 's favour were mostly due to a difference in worldviews between Britain and China. Britain sought trade and another strong alliance in the pacific; and China believed it was a superior and self-sufficient empire in which it was doing the “barbarians of the sea”, a favour by trading the European out of paternalistic instinct that it did for other vassals and barbarians that want China 's wealth1. Differences in philosophy …show more content…
It seems like a fair offer that was offered by the British during the 18th century, in an effort to allow Britain and China to both grow economically and militarily. However, Macartney did not know that was just seen as a tributary mission and not as a diplomatic mission by the Qianlong Emperor7. This miscalculation by the British on the Chinese customs was also a reason why the two civilizations could not forge a concrete trade pact with one and another. The Chinese viewpoint on trade and diplomacy was much different than the British viewpoint on trade and diplomacy. The Chinese had three worldly assumptions that makes them different from any kind of European philosophy: 1. The Chinese are superior. This was not just ego – the Chinese had never met any barbarians who possessed a civilization as advanced as China. China will dominate the