CONDITIONS IN

ASIA IN THE
19TH CENTURY
COMAINE AMAN
ANGELICA MAE ARSENAL
In the 19th century, three factors changed
the Asian monetary system forever: the
globalization of trade, colonization, and
inflation. The growth of international trade
in the 19th century led to increasing
contact—much of it violent—between
cultures.
In Asia, there were renewed efforts of European penetration
with the weakening of Spain and Portugal and the rise of Great
Britain and France. The British gained its colony in Hong Kong
and forced China to open Five ports to its traders following
China’s defeat in the Opium War of the British, now joined by the
French, forced China to open the whole country to foreigners.
Furthermore, Great Britain enlarged its colony in Hong Kong by
taking over Kowloon, and Japan was forced open by Americans
under Commodore Matthew Perry in 1854. Unlike the Chinese,
however, the Japanese were able to parry western requests to
make Yokohama a treaty port.
 India became a crown colony of Great
Britain in 1858 following the suppression or

ASIA IN the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Burma became a

colony of Great Britain after three
19TH CENTURY Burmese War in 1824-1826. 1862-1863, and
1886. Near the Philippines, Indo-China
became a protectorate of France following
the suppression of the kingdoms of Annam
and Cochin-China.
 Filipino troops sent from Manila
played a role in the conquest of Indo-
ASIA IN China for France. Malaysia became a
19TH CENTURY protectorate and eventually a colony
of Great Britain while Indonesia WAS
CONQUERED BY THE Dutch of
Netherlands.
some asian
countries in
19th
century
 Laos

Laos was also annexed into French Indo-China, although it

was not as important for French interests as Cambodia or
Viet Nam. Industry and modern conveniences became
common in the capital of Vientiane, but the predominantly
rural population continued to live as they had for
centuries, but silver ingots still played an important role in
daily life.

Silver ingot (19th century), from Vientiane.

 China
The Qing government's paper money devalued existing copper
currency, and allowed regional banks to strike their own coins.
Foreign money, especially U.S. and Mexican trade coins, was
widely used, particularly in port areas. The British crown colony
of Hong Kong began to issue its own coins, using a mixture of
Chinese and British symbolism.

Chinese copper qixiang zhongbao 10 cash (1861-1875) issued by

the Board of Works. Chinese coins were cast in tree-shaped
molds, after which the individual coins were removed from the
stem. The excess metal would have been returned to the mint
for melting and re-coining. This technology, perfected in the 3rd
century BC, was still being used in China in the 19th century AD.
 Korea
Hemmed in by China and Japan, Korean kings increasingly
looked for ways to raise money for stronger armies. The
decision in 1882 to abandon Chinese-style currency for the
costly chon denomination (which included enamel-work on
individual coins) contributed to the country's economic
difficulties. By 1910, Japan had taken over the country.

Copper p'yong t'ongbo cash (1806) "seed" coin of King Kongbo

(1801-1835) issued by the Treasury Department. "Seed" coins
were sample patterns submitted by the mint for royal approval.
 Philippines
The Philippine foreign trade from year 1825 to 1895 had risen
significantly with the total trade (combined exports and imports)
amounting to 2,800,000 pesos in 1825 and rose to 62,000,000
pesos in 1895. The growth of an export economy in those years
brought increasing prosperity to the Filipino middle and upper
classes as well as to the Western merchants who are chiefly
British and American who organized it.

This brought to the Philippines both the machinery and the

consumer goods which the industrialized economies of the West
could supply.
 Philippines
During the political developments, modernizing Filipinos saw the
colonial policies of Spain as not only the causes of the existing
economic prosperity, but increasingly as positive hindrances
preventing further progress and even threatening what had
already been achieved. Schumacher described how the instability
of the Spanish government and the tendency of corruption and
incompetency of the Spanish officials during the 19th century had
affected colonial governance especially in the Philippines.

Far worse in many ways than the corruption of the government was
its inability to provide for basic needs of public works, schools, peace
and order, and other prerequisites to even a semi-modern economy.
 Philippines
By the late 18th century, political and economic changes in
Europe were finally beginning to affect Spain and, thus, the
Philippines. Important as a stimulus to trade was the gradual
elimination of the monopoly enjoyed by the galleon to Acapulco.

The Filipinos in the 19th century had suffered from feudalistic

and master slave relationship by the Spaniards. Their social
structure is ranked into three groups: Highest class – the people
that belong in this class include the Spaniards, peninsulares and
the friars. They have the power and authority to rule over the
Filipinos. They enjoyed their positions and do what they want.
Middle Class – the people that belongs into this class includes
the natives, mestizos and the criollos.
Lowest class – this class includes the Filipinos only.

The Spaniards ruled the Filipinos in the 19th century. The

Filipinos became the Spaniard’s slave. The Spaniards claimed
their taxes and they worked under the power of the Spaniards.
 Thank you
for listening!
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