China / Indonesia: Chinese coolie on a tobacco plantation belonging to the Amsterdam Deli Company in Medan, Sumatra. Photograph by Carl Josef Kleingrothe (1864-1925), c. 1900

Waves of Chinese emigration have happened throughout history. The mass emigration known as the Chinese diaspora, which occurred from the 19th century to 1949, was mainly caused by wars and starvation in mainland China, invasion from various foreign countries, as well as the problems resulting from political corruption.

Most immigrants were illiterate peasants and manual labourers, called 'coolies', who emigrated to work in places such as the Americas, Australia, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Royal Netherlands Institute of S

Credit:

Pictures From History