Private Maritime Trade, Smuggling and Canton–Southeast Asian Routes (1550–1644)

1. Shuangyu emerges as major smuggling entrepôt

   Jan 1, 1524Labels: Shuangyu, Liuheng Island, Smuggling Hub

   • Shuangyu
   • Britannica

2. Jiajing-era wokou raids intensify coastal disruption

   Jan 1, 1540Labels: Wokou, Jiajing Era, Coastal Violence

   • Wokou raids

3. Ming navy destroys Shuangyu smuggling base

   Jun 1, 1548Labels: Ming Navy, Shuangyu, Anti-smuggling Campaign

   • Shuangyu
   • Wokou raids

4. Portuguese establish permanent settlement at Macao

   Jan 1, 1557Labels: Macao, Portuguese, European Base

   • Macao chrono

5. Haicheng County created; Yuegang legalized for private trade

   Jan 17, 1567Labels: Haicheng County, Yuegang, Moon Harbor

   • Yuegang
   • Haicheng

6. Licensed “visiting trade” from Haicheng expands to Southeast Asia

   Feb 1, 1567Labels: Visiting Trade, Haicheng, Wenyin Licenses

   • Haijiaoshi
   • Yuegang

7. General Yu Dayou suppresses remaining piracy near Yuegang

   Jan 1, 1569Labels: Yu Dayou, Anti-piracy, Yuegang

   • Yuegang

8. Ryukyu’s last official Siam voyage signals shifting intermediation

   Jan 1, 1570Labels: Ryukyu Kingdom, Siam Voyage, Intermediation

   • Haijiaoshi

9. Manila becomes Spanish capital, accelerating China–Philippines exchange

   Jun 24, 1571Labels: Manila, Spanish Capital, China-Philippines

   • LOC blog
   • New Spain

10. Limahong attacks Manila amid booming regional maritime traffic

    Nov 1, 1574Labels: Limahong, Manila Attack, Warlord

    • Manila 1574

11. Nan’ao One shipwreck reflects late-Ming Yuegang–Manila trade

    Jan 1, 1600Labels: Nan'ao One, Shipwreck, Yuegang Manila

    • Nan ao One
    • Yuegang

12. Dutch attempt Penghu post; Ming forces drive them off

    Jan 1, 1622Labels: Dutch VOC, Penghu, Ming Resistance

    • Formosa exp

13. VOC builds Fort Zeelandia, creating a new Taiwan trade hub

    Jan 1, 1624Labels: Fort Zeelandia, VOC Taiwan, Trade Hub

    • Zeelandia
    • Formosa exp

14. Spain establishes a northern Taiwan outpost to attract Chinese trade

    Jan 1, 1626Labels: Spanish Outpost, Northern Taiwan, Keelung

    • Formosa exp

15. Li Zicheng’s capture of Beijing ends the Ming dynasty

    Apr 25, 1644Labels: Li Zicheng, Beijing Capture, Ming Collapse

    • Jiashen