This is mainly due to the Qing Dynasty rulers' closed-door policy and the policy of obscuring the people. As a result, China has been working behind closed doors, missed the first two industrial revolutions, and was overtaken by Europe and the United States.

Our country has been a world-class power since ancient times. Only the first Opium War in 1840 and the 110 years since the founding of New China have lagged slightly behind the world. This is mainly due to the fact that the rulers of the Qing Dynasty implemented a closed-door policy and a policy of obscuring the people. As a result, China has been working behind closed doors, missed the first two industrial revolutions, and was overtaken by Europe and the United States. But the Qing Dynasty did not make no contributions to later generations. At least in terms of territory, the Qing Dynasty made a huge contribution.

The Qing Dynasty was the last feudal dynasty in my country. It was at the intersection of my country's ancient history and modern history. During the handover of power with the Republic of China, it completely handed over the eighteen provinces of Han China, Northeast China, Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang and other regions to the Beiyang Government. In the hands of , it laid the foundation for today's China. Unlike other dynasties in ancient times, the Qing Dynasty's land area was mostly under actual control, reaching its peak in 1820 at 13.16 million square kilometers. Therefore, the Qing Dynasty was also the dynasty that actually controlled the largest territory in my country.

Before the Qing Dynasty, the Han, Tang and Ming dynasties were also the best among many dynasties in China. Their land area was not small. The peak land area of ​​ Han Dynasty was 10.2 million square kilometers, The peak land area of ​​ Tang Dynasty was 12.37 million square kilometers. The peak land area of ​​ in the Ming Dynasty was 9.97 million square kilometers. However, these dynasties did not directly rule the border areas, but adopted the policy of restraint and indirect management of the border areas. Only the traditional Han areas are truly under the direct jurisdiction of the central government . For example, during the Ming Dynasty, the only areas directly under the jurisdiction were "Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces", and the remaining Nurgandusi in the northeast, Uszangdusi and Duogan in the southwest Dusi, Orisi Military and Civilian Marshal's Mansion, Guanxi Qiwei and other places are all Jisu's ruling areas.

The Jisi ruling area is a symbol of the strength of the Central Plains dynasty. Although the Central Plains dynasty does not directly manage these areas, its strong strength and influence are enough to make the tribes in these areas submit. The emperor will nominally canonize these tribal leaders and give their The territory is incorporated into the territory. The Jisu region enjoys a large number of privileges. As long as they recognize the rule of the Central Plains Dynasty, they do not have to pay taxes and have a high degree of autonomy. However, when the Central Plains dynasty's national power weakened, its influence would decline, and the former Jisi area would be separated from the control of the imperial court.

It can be seen that the Jisi ruling area is only a nominal territory and is a dispensable existence. After all, most of these areas are desolate areas, not suitable for growing food, and conflict with our country's farming civilization. Naturally, there is no need for the ancient dynasty to directly manage them.

But when the wheel of history turned to the Qing Dynasty, the situation changed. The Qing Dynasty itself was founded by ethnic minorities. It had experience in managing ethnic minority areas. It also learned from the lessons of previous dynasties and developed a system that could effectively govern border areas.

The first thing the Qing Dynasty solved was the Mongolian issue that had troubled the Ming Dynasty for three hundred years. It drew Mongolia over through titles, rewards and marriages, and gradually digested it. Then generals were set up to manage the border areas, such as General Ulia Sutai, General Ili, etc. This changed the previous dynasty's policy of not stationing troops in the Jisu area. These generals were directly appointed by the emperor. As the highest military attachés in their jurisdiction, they commanded a considerable number of troops to guard the borders. The Qing Dynasty also adapted measures to local conditions when it came to governing Tibet. It supported the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, maintained military garrison, appointed ministers stationed in Tibet, and implemented systems such as drawing lots from the golden urn to strengthen the connection between the mainland and Tibet.

In addition to the subjective reason of improving the policy of governing border areas, the Qing Dynasty was able to maintain a vast territory because of its integration with the world and the concept of borders.

Before the Qing Dynasty, the boundaries of each dynasty were not fixed. " The whole world is not the royal land.". When the dynasty was strong, it had enough ability to expand outwards, but most of the territories it conquered were barren and unsuitable. Han people live there, and the supply lines are getting longer and longer, so they often take the initiative to withdraw their troops. After we sang and your side came on stage, the Central Plains dynasty has been in a state of tug of war with surrounding regimes, and the boundaries have been changing. When the Central Plains dynasty's national power weakened and it no longer had the ability to expand outwards, it would build border cities and beacons and huddle within the border cities. The Great Wall is the best example. Almost every dynasty built the Great Wall, and the Great Wall became the boundary of our country for most of its time.

However, during the Qing Dynasty, with the advent of the Western Age of Discovery, direct exchanges between China and the West became more and more frequent, and the concept of modern territory gradually took shape. The most typical case is the "Treaty of Nerchinsk" signed by China and Russia in 1689. It was the first international treaty signed between China and Western countries. It divided the eastern border between China and Russia and established it legally. The vast areas of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri River watersheds including Sakhalin Island belong to China.

After the Opium War, although the Qing Dynasty signed a series of unequal treaties, many of the treaties delimited national boundaries, such as " Aihui Treaty", " China-Russia Treaty of Tianjin", " China-Russia Beijing Treaty ", "Ili Treaty", etc. The biggest role of these treaties is to gain international recognition and become the legal basis for our country's borders. No matter how poor and weak China is, it can legally maintain a land area of ​​nearly 10 million square kilometers. Only with a vast land can it hope to rise.