During the 19th and early 20th centuries, China experienced intense imperialism from Western powers that reshaped its political and economic future. European countries, especially Britain, used military force and unfair treaties like those after the Opium Wars to dominate their trade. China lost key port cities, like Hong Kong, and was forced into unequal trade deals under the Canton System. These foreign pressures weakened the Qing Dynasty, sparked internal conflicts like the Taiping Rebellion, which made China vulnerable. While other regions industrialized, China remained largely dependent, with its economy controlled by outside powers. This helped fuel nationalist movements as the Chinese people sought to restore independence and resist future domination from outside forces. Imperialism left lasting scars on China, but it also set the stage for China’s rise as a global power in the modern era. Today, China thrives with a vibrant culture with deep traditions with a flourishing economy, and a dominant current state.