Oltre la muraglia, verso l’oceano. Guangzhou, un polo strategico tra Cina ed Europa (1514-1842)

Over the centuries, Guangzhou (Canton) grew as one of the Chinese mainland and maritime terminus of the Silk Routes. During the early modern period, it was a key international seaport of Imperial China for trade, diplomacy and cultural relations with Western Europe. This paper focuses on the political and economic strategies adopted to make Guangzhou the pivot of the “one door” policy under the rule of Ming and Qing dynasties, aiming to collect and control all Western maritime exchanges exclusively in the area.