ASIAN CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY
CULTURE
GEOGRAPHY
Sources
CULTURE
GEOGRAPHY
Sources
OPIUM AND ASIA
The opium trade
In AD 4
00, Opium was introduced to the Chinese by Arab traders.
In the 1600s, India and Persia began using opium for recreational use and Portuguese traders bring opium to China from India
In 1606, Queen Elizabeth sends traders to bring back opium
.
In the 1700s, Dutch traders help with the flow of the opium trade throughout Southeastern Asia.
In 1729, the Chinese emperor bans opium trade and use, except for medical use.
In 1750, the British East India Co. takes over the trade from India to China.
In 1793, the British East India Co. has a monopoly on opium in Asia
In 1799, opium is banned in China entirely.
In 1805, the British continue to smuggle opium into China
In 1839, the Chinese commissioner demanded that all foreign traders would give up their opium. This caused The First Opium War with Britain.
In 1841, China is defeated.
In 1856, there was a Second Opium War, which was against Britain and France. China was defeated again and was forced to allow free opium trade.