During the 18th and 19th century Western traders and missionaries came to East Asia in increasing numbers. At first they came mainly to trade and spread their Christian beliefs, but after the Industrial Revolution in Europe the number of merchants travelling to Asia rose as the Westerners aimed to obtain raw materials for their new industries and to trade their mass produced items. The powers in Europe began to compete for control over land in Asia, many establishing colonial outposts in the area. China aimed to maintain a policy of isolation during the Qing Dynasty as the ruling powers wanted to preserve social stability by preventing the spread of foreign ideas in their society. These policies were mostly successful until the mid 19th century when Western traders became even more determined to expand their trading market into China.