1) The Portuguese first reached China in 1513 but were not granted official permission to trade until 1557 when they established a base in Macao. Other Europeans also traded with China from bases on nearby islands like Taiwan. 2) The Dutch became the leading traders in East Asia in the 17th century. They gained entry to Chinese markets and performed the Kowtow ritual. 3) Catholic missionaries entered China alongside traders in the 16th century. The Jesuits and Franciscans/Dominicans used different strategies to convert Chinese - Jesuits courted high officials while others used a bottom-up approach.

1. China and the West

2. Ming Dynasty Recap

14. Kangxi