1764-1772: notable historical events?

[householder]

Two of the Qing Dynasty's "Ten Great Campaigns" happened at this time; one against the Burmese and another against rebels in Sichuan.

The four Chinese invasions of Burma (1765–69) were important because the Chinese were walloped each time. In part, this was due to Burma having large numbers of veteran troops, experienced from conquests in Siam. But a large part of China's problems came from being unfamiliar with tropical climate and tropical disease, which took a heavy toll.

The failures of China to make headway seems to have convinced the Qing rulers to abandon dreams of conquering SE Asia. And the war helped Siam to regain its independence, since large numbers of Burmese troops were committed to fighting the Chinese, and suffered significant casualties doing so.

 

[Masada]

Eh, the first invasion wasn't an invasion of Burma at all and was rather an attempt by the Qing to re-install their client the sawbwa of Kengtung. I'm also not sure how the characterization of the Qing being unaware of tropical climate and tropical diseases are. Yunnan has, well, both. Interestingly, Yunnan is one of only two provinces that has falciparum malaria, the other being Hainan. I think the better observation is that the Chinese ran ahead of their supplies and suffered due to disease and famine as a result of that.

 

[Phrossack]

Well, that's interesting. I didn't really know much about the Ten Great Campaigns, or of the Burmese invasion of Siam. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do on non-Western 18th century politics and warfare, thanks!

 

[Glassfan]

If by "discover" you mean "be head of the first European expedition to see Australia". Then no. simply no. That happened over 160 years earlier by a dutch guy.

I stand corrected.

 

[sydhe]

In the Colonies:
The Stamp Act went into effect on November 1, 1765 and was repealed on March 18, 1766.
The Boston Massacre was on March 5, 1770. The soldiers were acquitted in November, I think.
(The Boston Tea party was in 1773, so doesn't fit in the timeline.)