I-&W
CHAPTER X
BEGINNING OF INTERCOURSE
Steam engines proved great service to mankind
in the development of transportation, and in this
development the West and East first met each other.
When industry grew and competitive commerce began
looking for foreign markets for manufactured goods,
they sought'new sources of raw materials, and new
places to invest accumulated capital.  More advanced
Westerners had gone every where, populating the
continents of America, dividing up Africa and exploiting "backward nations.  In the nineteenth century the effects of this expansion reached the Far
Eastern nations which had an older civilization of
their own and up to that time had closed their gates
to outside influence.  Eastern nations were annoyed
at seeing their doors opened against their will, by
the stronger Powers of the West.
Korea, one of the oldest nations of the world,
was one of the annoyed nations. She  had maintained
her civilization, arts, and religion, without contact
with the West, until the latter part of the nineteenth