The foreign firms' economic activities in preliberation China are animportant subject for study in the modern history of China. This thesis takes theiractivities round about the Opium War as the object of study, probes into thefirms' occurrence and evolution during the years between l782 and l858, andmake a systematic and comprehensive study of their activities. The author holdsthe period between 1782 and 1858 was a magnificent one when foreign firmsoccured and evolved. Before the Opium War, their activities were limited toCanton, but after the war, the firms widened their activities throughout the fivetreaty ports, and what's more, they established firms in the non-treaty ports. Inthe period of pre-Opium War, the firms acted as agents, but in the period of post-Opium War, many firms attached more importance to the management of theirown business as well as others'. After the War, their activities became moreextensive, Which included build-and- repair ships, food processing, banks,insurance, securities, real estate and so on as well as import and export trade.Moreover, the firms expanded their smuggling scope, including not only theillegal opium trade, but the trade of munitions, coolie and the smuggling of thecommon merchandise on the China coast.In short, the years between 1782 and l858 were a significant periodduring which the foreign firms occurred and evolved, and a crucial period ofprimitive accumulation of capital. Foreign firms achieved their expandedinfluence through the use of force and the unequal treats. Their economicactivities of this period laid the foundation for the later economic expansion andpillaging in China, which put China in the position of becoming a semi-colonial,semi-feudal society. |