Ming, an inmate of Buddhist monastery, established his control over China after the Mongols had been driven out. The successors of the Ming dynasty ruled in China from 1368 to 1644.
Their geographical explorations and naval expeditions enabled them to establish contacts with Cambodia, Cochin, Siam, Sumatra, Java and islands near the African coasts. Europeans also established their relations with China during the reign of Ming rulers.
China made tremendous progress during the rule of these rulers but under the Manchu emperors (1644-1838) the Chinese empire was expanded very much. They also encouraged art, architecture, literature and education.
Westerners also came to China during the reign of Manchu rulers. They were given due regards in the beginning but later on, Chinese began to dislike them due to their behaviour.
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As a result of it all the foreigners were forced to leave China but as soon as the power of the Manchu rulers began to decline, the foreigners returned to China to exploit her. In fact, the opium wars were the result of the weaknesses of the Manchu rulers.
The trade of opium was flourishing in China. The government of China considered it her moral responsibility to save the countrymen from this evil whereas the British were in favour of the progress of the opium trade for their own benefit.
Hence both the countries plunged into war due to their commercial interests. The war came to be known as Opium War.
Generally, opium trade is considered to be the main cause of the outbreak of this war but in fact, there were some other reasons which constituted the background of this war.
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Persons who were appointed to the post of Trade Superintendent after Napear were liberal in their outlook. They tried to give a real shape to the ideas of Napear but they did not succeed.
However, they did not commit any mischief so as to annoy the Chinese government and continued to work peacefully in Macao. In 1830 when Charles Illiot was appointed on this post, he sought permission from the Viceroy for his residence at Canton.
The request was granted but the position of British traders did not improve thereby. Therefore an English fleet was sent to the shores of Southern China for the help of British traders.