Scramble for China – Robert Bickers – 13/9/12

THE SCRAMBLE FOR CHINA
a talk by Professor Robert Bickers
preceded by book launch

Date: Thursday, 13th September
Time: 7.00-8.30 pm
Venue: To be confirmed
Entry: Members of The Meridian Society and SACU free
Non-members £5 donation

Registration:  themeridiansociety@gmail.com

Robert Bickers obtained his PhD at SOAS, University of London. He is Professor of History at Bristol University. His publications include Empire Made Me: An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai; Britain in China: Community and Colonialism, 1900-49; Picturing China, 1870-1950: Photographs from Bristol Collections; The Boxers, China and the World ed. with R.G Tiedermann)

His latest book, The Scramble for China: Foreign Devils in the Qing Empire, 1832-1914, covers the period of upheaval in China’s modern history, when European powers invaded and controlled Chinese territory, pioneered by merchants, traders, missionaries, East India Company officials, military adventurers and finally gunboat naval officers and seamen. This was the quest to open up China to foreign trade, prising open a free market against the restraints and restrictions of the Qing Dynasty Manchu rulers. The tool was opium imports in exchange for tea, silk and other Chinese luxuries and the method was war, starting with the first Opium War of 1839-1842.

This talk will be preceded by book launch at Arthur Probsthain Bookshop
Time: 6.00 – 6.30 pm.
Venue:  41 Great Russell Street, London WC1B