Embassies to China. Diplomacy and Cultural Encounters Before the Opium Wars

The Opium Wars of China in the Nineteenth Century and America in the Twenty-First

“…Because there was little the Chinese wanted in return, its dynastic treasuries swelled with the precious metal. 2 The imbalance persisted until the nineteenth century when British traders fully exploited the opium market. It was nothing new to the country, where it was part of its pharmacopoeia.…”

“…Opium use became such a problem for the country that the ruling Qing emperor made the sale and possession of opium illegal in 1729. 2 Legal strictures did nothing but drive trafficking underground and make it much more costly. Authorities then tried legalizing the use of opium, a hopeless ploy that had no effect on consumption.…”