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Detailed map of China, colored by provinces, published between the first Opium War and Taiping Rebellion.
The First Opium War (1839-1842) was emblematic of the growing tensions between the Qing Dynasty and Western powers, particularly Great Britain. The war, ignited by disputes over British opium trade in China, culminated in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. This treaty marked the commencement of the 'Unequal Treaty System', forcing China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open several ports to foreign trade, and grant extraterritorial rights to foreigners, severely undermining China's sovereignty.
In the ensuing years, China faced the cataclysmic Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), one of the deadliest civil wars in history. Led by Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom challenged the Qing Dynasty's legitimacy. The rebellion, driven by a mix of religious fervor and anti-Qing sentiment, led to vast human suffering and significant territorial loss for the Qing government. It exposed the dynasty's weaknesses, including its inability to effectively govern and protect its citizens.
![[China] 古今地舆全圖 / Full Modern and Ancient Map](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/62437kb.jpg)
![(Silk Route Region / Western China) [Octava Asie Tabula]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/84174.jpg)
![(Southwestern China) Iunan, Queicheu, e Quangsi Provincie della China. . . [Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi Provinces of China]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/70078mp2.jpg)
