1840 Opium war breaks out, putting an end to a long period of self-imposed Chinese isolation.
1850-1864 The Taiping rebellion against the Qing government, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, sees southern China descend into civil war. It becomes an inspiration for Sun Yat-sen, who will lead the 1911 revolution decades later.
1861-1895 The Self-Strengthening Movement, a period of institutional reform, is initiated during the late Qing dynasty. Some of the ruling elite believe China can learn about military technology and armaments from foreigners and then surpass them.
1890s More intellectuals and members of the elite, mostly students studying abroad, vow to overthrow the Manchu Qing dynasty and build a republic.
1894 Sun Yat-sen founds the Xing Zhong Hui, or Revive China Society, in Honolulu, Hawaii, with the oath 'Expel Manchus, revive China and establish a unified government'. It is later merged into the Tong Meng Hui, or Chinese United League, which turns into the Kuomintang.
1895 China is defeated in the first Sino-Japanese war, revealing the severe military weakness of the Qing dynasty. It also demonstrates the modernisation of Japan and the power it has achieved through embracing reform.
