Why was it difficult for european merchants to trade with china before the early 1800's

By the end of the 1800s, there was a change in the nature of the immigrants coming to the united states. immigration from northern europe—england, ireland, germany, and scandinavia—declined, while immigration from italy, russia, and austria-hungary grew. in fact, between 1900 and 1910, more than three-fourths of all immigrants came from these three countries. unfortunately, these countries were far removed england, the home of our founders, and the immigrants who came from them had a hard time adjusting to life in their new country.

What was new about the writing system developed by the phoenicians, and why was this important to the growth of knowledge and spread of ideas?

Before the invention of the loom in 1785, textile manufacturing was: a) regulated under the guild system. b) performed by children working in factories. c) produced in rural cottages under a putting-out system. d) conducted by british colonists overseas.