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From what I can see of history and seeing the fact that China had a HUGE proportion of the GDP of the entire world before the Europeans caught up, what I want to ask is why China was never really able to excel in a capability and become a GREAT power able to influence things much like Britain or other European or western nations did. Another thing that I've been trying to wonder is exactly what China had in terms of potential and what it could have done if things in history had gone right for it.

I'm basically asking two questions, one being what was China's potential before the 1900s, and also what it could have done to make good on such a potential and become a world power able to stand on her own feet and influence events in the world much like a great power of the era was able to do. It may sound like I am underestimating what the Chinese did, but my lack of knowledge on the subject has forced me to make this thread and hope that some experts on China can aid me in my pursuit of knowledge concerning it. :D
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