China With a Small Sea

The first westerners to gain a tow hold in china were the portuguese traders and missionaries, who, back in 15 57, were granted the tiny enclave of macao. The authorities down there said, you're not allowed to go anywhere but this tiny place. So without any kind of commodity or goods to exchange for tea, silk and porcelain, they could only reach into their pockets and pay with silver. And that's how this whole thing really started.