The significance of the Treaty of Nanking, signed in 1842, was that it marked the end of the First Opium War between Great Britain and China. The treaty was notably unequal, forcing China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open five ports to British trade, and grant extraterritorial rights to British citizens. This outcome symbolized the beginning of what many refer to as the "Century of Humiliation" for China, during which foreign powers exerted control over Chinese territories and trade. The treaty exemplified the shift in power dynamics between the West and China, leading to significant political and social upheavals in Chinese society.