Breaking with the Past - The Maritime Customs Service and the Global Origins of Modernity in China Breaking with the Past - The Maritime Customs Service and the Global Origins of Modernity in China Author: Dr. [Name] February 11, 2014 Pages: [Number] Genre: History, Politics, Economics Synopsis: In "Breaking with the Past - The Maritime Customs Service and the Global Origins of Modernity in China Dr. [Name] delves into the history of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, an institution that played a pivotal role in shaping China's integration into the modern world of trade and finance. Spanning from its founding in 1854 to its collapse in 1952, this book explores how the Customs Service introduced modern governance of trade, kept China together during tumultuous times, and influenced the outcomes of significant events such as the Sino-French War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the 1911 Revolution. The book begins by highlighting the significance of the Customs Service, which managed one-third to one-half of all revenue collected by China's central authorities. The author emphasizes the institution's role in managing China's harbors, erecting lighthouses, and surveying the Chinese coast.

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