Final answer:
The Chinese attempted to control European merchant influence after the 1500s by restricting foreign trade, controlling trade routes, and imposing restrictions on contact with foreigners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Chinese attempted to control European merchant influence after the 1500s in several ways:
- Restriction of foreign trade: China limited trade to the exchange of tribute goods, pressuring other nations to comply with its demands. All private foreign trade was forbidden in 1371, and all foreign trade officially came to an end when the Maritime Trade Intendancies' offices were closed.
- Control of trade routes: China established trade routes and controlled access to its products, such as tea, silk, and porcelain. It rejected most European trade goods and insisted on payment for its exports in silver.
- Restrictions on contact: During the Qing dynasty, China minimized contact with foreigners by allowing them to reside only in Macao and restricting trade to the port of Guangzhou. Europeans were subject to Chinese law and had to stay in a designated quarter while in the city.