Were Qing Ports Mere Gateways or Agents of Globalization? Silver, Coolies, and the Sino-Latin America Connection

Qing dynasty port cities, particularly Xiamen and Kulangsu, were not merely passive gateways but active agents in early globalization, shaping transoceanic exchanges between China and Latin America. This study reveals that these ports facilitated the influx of Spanish American silver in the late 17th and 18th centuries and later became central to the export of Chinese indentured laborers ('coolies') to Cuba and Peru during the mid-19th century. By comparing Xiamen and Kulangsu with other coastal hubs like Guangzhou and Macao, researchers demonstrate how these cities integrated overseas silver into local economies and adapted to global transformations despite imperial constraints and unequal treaties. The findings highlight the agency of local actors—officials, merchants, and intermediaries—in negotiating these exchanges, offering a nuanced perspective on China's role in early globalization.

Huang, Z. (2025). Were Qing Ports Mere Gateways or Agents of Globalization? Silver, Coolies, and the Sino-Latin America Connection. Ibero-América Studies, 10(2), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.55704/ias.v10i2.03