AM Archives Direct builds on the wealth of East Asian material available in the series with new collection Foreign Office, Consulate and Legation Files, China: 1830-1939
This expansive resource, drawn exclusively from The National Archives, UK, presents the files of the British legation and consulates in China, predominantly drawn from the FO228 file class. It offers a rich view of historical events, from trade routes and military conflicts to public health challenges and revolution.
Section I: Wars and Treaties, 1830-1895, now available, covers a turbulent time in China’s history and in Sino-British relations. Beginning with Britain’s pursuit of the illegal Opium trade, and the first Opium War that followed in 1839-42, the period also saw the Taiping Rebellion, a highly destructive civil war waged over the course of 14 years, and the first Sino-Japanese War.
Legation is a now disused category of diplomatic mission, similar to a traditional embassy but ranking below it in the traditional diplomatic hierarchy. This collection is comprised mainly of correspondence between these missions and Whitehall, focused around port cities where Britain had a diplomatic and economic presence. The crucial resource enables students and researchers to explore international relations outwards from multiple cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing and beyond, and examine how interactions with the UK shaped both nations during a period of dramatic change.
Key themes in Section I include international relations, diplomacy and warfare, as well as trade and the economy. There is also material covering public health and missionaries, including a significant Christian missionary presence in China during this period. The first of four modules, Foreign Office, Consulate and Legation Files, China: 1830-1939, Section I: Wars and Treaties, 1830-1895 is available now.
To find out more about this resource, visit the collection page.
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