Why Did Britain Get China Addicted To Opium? | Empires of Silver | Absolute History

It's hard to believe but silver was at one time worth more than gold. China used silver as their currency and the West had to pay in silver for Chinese goods. This angered the British and so they sought a commodity that the Chinese would be forced to buy. China did not covet any goods that the West had except one: Opium.
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[@caneestudio]

America & Europe hasn't changed. Their attitude "what's yours is mine, & what's mine stays mine".

[@joshhorn5131]

And this is exclusive to America and Europe?

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Wow this guy needs to study more of history. Every nation has done these exact tactics and worse against those around themselves, at it's most basics it's taxes paid by people to there governments but you get roads theys say

[@InterYamah]

As it should be to the lesser races

[@richymoore]

Brainwashed

[@Seven-ld9zv]

This is an amazing documentary series about a topic that's almost forgotten in modern Western societies. I do feel like it still minimized the involvement of Britain, France and Japan in the destruction of the Qing empire. It remarkably leaves out what the British did to Puyi; the last emperor of the Qing, it leaves out the Japanese invasion of China and massacres at Nanjing, Shanghai and other places.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Olympic Medals Higher Chinese

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

Most of those events had nothing to do with China's silver or opium. You could have a documentary about Chinas history with manchu or mongol invasion and some chinese will complain, "why did you leave out the opium and unit 731".

[@Rorschachqp]

It’s remembered in many movies.

[@r2dxhate]

I agree that there has been an independent white washing of history from every perspective globally, but there's also a lot of Chinese propaganda trying to re-write history. The 9 dash line for instance. We need to be skeptical of all claims, and practice critical thinking.

[@adrianseanheidmann4559]

@@NazriB Are YOU high??

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

"Being foolish and having too much wealth will increase your faults" - Lin Zexu (林則徐)

[@goodgrief888]

That’s the tech wealthy in Silicon Valley

[@davechristian7543]

@@goodgrief888 isnt money so important to all americans mate which has now spread globally since ww2

[@user-jg9cr9bj8v]

Same with drugs and alcohol.

[@pofoto1950]

Qq]]​@@goodgrief888

[@laurenlance8960]

So the Americans dumped the tea purchased with opium into the ocean and the Chinese dumped the opium used to buy the tea into the river. Classic.

[@byakuya3603]

In fact, China’s destruction of opium was done by reacting it with caustic soda (NAOH), not by dumping it into the river, because that would cause people who drink the river water to get addicted.

[@sicks6six]

Happy to have been a fish back then 😂

[@adrianseanheidmann4559]

@@byakuya3603 you don't get a addicted from drinking a tad bit of opium infested water mate.

[@bigboss-tl2xr]

​@@adrianseanheidmann4559Right!? You gotta drink a BIG glass every day for a few weeks....

[@Rstars2o4]

Yea cuz the UK was that annoying step dad who tries to tell u what to do but u end up screwing him over because in reality, he cant do a single damn thing.

[@tilunet76]

In french, still today, the word for money is "argent", wich means silver. Now I know why. Wonderful series.

[@sofiaponte7993]

It comes from Latin. In Latin money and silver had the same name, argentum

[@strexpills]

in romania means also the same and its spelled argint

[@LorelleCaimyth]

Same in the Irish language, Gaeilge, money is 'airgead'

[@freekpluimers]

The Chinese are doing the same to the US with fentanyl as the British did to China.

[@RobespierreThePoof]

It's Rome that led to that word. Not China.

[@patrickllt]

This is just 1 of the many reasons China has rapidly modernised its military.

[@johngammon963]

Their army is ineffective and undisciplined plus their leaders are hypocrites.

[@thunderK5]

HSBC: Even worse than you thought.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

The documentary was correctly directed with additional facts i was unaware. Yes, the British modernized chinese harbors and organization but all of this work wasn't done to benefit china. All of the work done by western powers was concentrated around chinas ports in order to streamline the flow of opium into China. Yes silver and tea was a major influence for profits but a kilograms of opium bought in India for 10 pounds would be worth 10k pounds once it reached the chinese coastline. Britain was the first Narco state.

[@Taporeee]

Yes

[@user-jg9cr9bj8v]

I doubt that. Drugs and prostitution had been influential probably since the beginning is it's time.

[@PrimoPete]

​@@user-jg9cr9bj8vOf course they were, the Brits just, no pun intended, put the drug trade on cocaine and overran China.

[@sicks6six]

Great documentary and with all the documentaries from this channel its a notch up on everyone else.🎉

[@philiprobinson3160]

Makes me wonder if China's role in the fentanyl manufacture and America's problem with fentanyl is a form of payback/learning from the past.

[@sisofphil]

Bingo

[@chriscarrol9373]

You just figured that out now?

[@philiprobinson3160]

@@chriscarrol9373 yes!

[@treedillon]

It was the raw material for manufacturing fentanyl, and exported to Mexico. As for what Americans wanted to use these, they decided. Of course, I hope they can sell the finished products directly.

[@wenliu9571]

Raw materials are exported to many countries. Why is it that only Americans snack on drugs?

[@wenliu9571]

Chinese people have always used gold, silver and copper as currency, and iron coins have been used in some periods. The problem was that gold was so rare that copper became a supplement at first, and then copper became common and cheap, and silver became the mainstream. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the growth of the population and the prosperity of the country led to a shortage of silver until the Qing Dynasty, when a large amount of silver was earned from trade with Western colonists, and then new problems emerged.

[@kahlernygard809]

Exactly the problems had to do with silver being exchanged for opium not that opium was causing a moral panic. An advisor to the emperor wanted to kill everyone who used opium.

[@dildoor]

Great series. Learned a lot. Thanks.

[@anticat900]

I didn't know how wealthy Chinese traders were at the time. Probably the richest people in the world. They were worldly wise too, funding and transferring cheap Chinese labour to the US to build the railway network.

[@jonnyqwst]

I spent several months in china in the late eighties, my first wife was Chinese. Almost no one in the west has any idea the degree to which china today and since the 19th century have been waiting for revenge for being beaten and exploited. It’s a huge motivation in chinas rise.

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

I am of Chinese descent. I do not feel that way, however, my forebears do. I agree with you. I also feel like theirs (my forebears as well as China itself) is not an enlightened outlook. Such motivations perpetuate an endless cycle of violence and revenge.

[@theolich4384]

​@@S0ulinth3machin3 It's easy for the offender to preach "enlightenment", tsk, until they become the victim. The west had NOT been leading with example. Shall we not retaliate when 9/11 struck, cause violence and revenge maybe endless? Oy, there can be exception when WE do it! Boots on Ukrainian soil? Why didn't you chant Matthew 5:39 and have them turn the other cheek to the Russians, so that they can attain the enlightened outlook? FFS.

[@byakuya3603]

Please don’t use hateful language to describe the Chinese people. The Chinese people regard the history from 1800 to 1950 as a “humiliating history”, which made them realize that being weak would lead to destruction and enslavement. But there is also a famous saying in China: “Because I have been rained on, I want to hold an umbrella for others”. Historically, China has never initiated a war against other countries. We should not impose the Western imperialist value of “the strong should colonize other countries” on China.

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

​@@byakuya3603 no one used any hateful language. That's one of the problems with Asian face culture: any sort of criticism, no matter how mild or constructive, is seen as "hate". The reason that's an impediment is: without criticism, you don't know your weaknesses, without understanding your weaknesses, you can never improve. When I speak of Asian face culture, it's not just China. It's nearly all of Asia. The thing about needing to save face prevents its practitioners from fully recognizing reality. The reality is: no one is perfect. Human beings are flawed.

[@byakuya3603]

@@S0ulinth3machin3 yes，you are really true

[@Sleigh]

Shedding light on a key factor in modern history ❤

[@capoislamort100]

The Brits couldn’t conquer china though, they got India, but not old china.

[@nicholacousins8563]

Got the tea though

[@senje4062]

Had the Mughals continued their reign in India, Brits would not get even India.

[@howardmonument6093]

​@@nicholacousins8563that's all that matters 😂 ☕

[@pearsonfrank]

In 1903 The Brits invaded Tibet (they claimed it was to stop an Imperial Czar Russian invasion !!) they were kicked out when the Qing emperor sent troops from Beijing....

[@youngsixty7395]

The fact that we get free documentaries on KZbin by Absolute History is truly a gift. 👏👏👏 May I also remind you the fact that our Native American population in our motherland, the Continent of America before the European Colonizers arrived, was around 15 millions, while the European population in their motherland, the Continent of Europe was around 25 millions. Today, Native American population is 15 million, while the European population, in the Continents of America + Europe, is a staggering TWO BILLION! A shocking sad truth. 😔 In my humble opinion, it's about time to decolonize the Colonized lands, and return it to rightful owners Native American people. Notorious global cardinal crimes the Christian West has committed, and benefited a great deals, such as Slavery & Colonialism had long been over, why on earth is notorious Colonization still lingering on, may I ask? 😔

[@olefella7561]

It's a gift.

[@michaeltownsend4644]

Exactly. Haven’t bothered with tv in jonks. The quality of some of these documentaries is extraordinary!! Would be fascinating to watch a thoroughly well researched and objective documentary on the decline of Southern Africa. Sadly it is still playing out so I guess we will have to wait a little longer to see how it plays out. The rise of modern China duplicated in Africa would be good. Just don’t hold your breath.

[@miraeja]

@@michaeltownsend4644absolutely!! Imagine watching tv 😂

[@TheBillaro]

the fact that most of it is wrong is worrying

[@mohdfahmi8841]

// ;;//;//..;;//.

[@orlaighsinead]

I learned so much, thanks for the insight. Well done.

[@joshuajoshua7257]

Why is China getting america hooked on fentanyl?

[@1HeatWalk]

Why are Americans getting hooked on it? Did China put us at gun point to take it?

[@DEMONIKMINION]

They're not, Americans are getting America hooked on fentanyl. No other "civilised", "functioning" nation is in this position.

[@janejones8672]

Think about it

[@joshuajoshua7257]

@@janejones8672 because they want us dead so they can take our land. A learned tactic from its application on them by the british.

[@godofrock]

Americans get Americans hooked on drugs it’s a weakness in our character that needs to be changed. U.S.A uses more drugs than most all other countries combined.

[@OldDunollieman]

Another brilliant episode. It is no wonder that China views the West with suspicion..

[@bibsp3556]

Not as much as China views the Chinese with suspicion

[@timothy2935]

"Jealousy " there fixed it

[@Happy_Spatula]

Recent history shows very citizen views its government with suspicion @bibsp3556

[@ireneusjustinpolicarp8628]

@@timothy2935 Too tame. Let’s go with envy.

[@jackychen5578]

中国对中国人抱有怀疑？什么意思@@bibsp3556

[@terryboehler5752]

China wanted silver for their tea. The British said "no, we're going to introduce an addiction which will allow us to trade opium for tea.

[@hmj1116]

My dad was addicted to opium at China when he ran out of money he committed suicide .

[@screamdreamer9085]

I’m sorry for your loss

[@justayoutuber1906]

Film production used to use up a lot of silver. Kodak went through tons per month.

[@OlObuffalo]

hence "silver screen"

[@droopypie]

"Love of money is a root of all evil."

[@user-martinpd]

I like the statement about people looking at steamships and thinking they ran on fire. When people look at clouds they think they are looking at a question waiting for an answer instead of a fluid acting in a certain way, with certain colors, in a larger fluid.

[@suburbanhoosier4791]

A very educational video! The title is a little misleading though, i feel like this video was mostly about Chinese Silver and trade, not about Opium so much.

[@lm6754]

Yes, thank you!

[@HuxleyCrimson]

It is called click baiting. And it is purposefully and carefully crafted to this intent, to gain attraction. Just a wee bit deceptive, but the content is great though, so, forgiven.

[@tylerpentecost9669]

​@@HuxleyCrimsonYou aren't wrong about that, but the video made a pretty compelling case that access to Chinese silver from the silver trade *was* the reason for selling opium to China. They needed a product that the Chinese would trade their silver away for, and opium is highly addictive.

[@georgevivaldi]

That's the thing, the British caused a massive epidemic of heroin addiction in China just to balance their silver trade with the Qing. Just think about how callous you'd have to be to, fully aware of the consequences, shove one of the most addictive substances known down the throats of a populace. All of it to make India profitable as a colony and also balance the trade deficit.

[@mohdfahmi8841]

//;;//;//;//!!//¡****;;*;;*;*;*;//.?

[@jimsullivanyoutube]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@digitalnomad5643]

Brilliant presentation of Chinese history that explains why present day China remains hell-bent on modernizing itself.

[@iggy5347]

No. China needs to be careful with the liberal democracy. Its creates chaos between left and right like in the US. The US is becoming china 1900 with forever war and high debt . And with US weak gov the fentanyl crisis is out of control

[@snuscaboose1942]

If it was modernizing why turn to backwards to Communism? Communism always leads to corruption, ethno-Nationalism, conflict and suffering.

[@natenope7258]

* and flooding us with fentanyl

[@frankhill4358]

Huh?? Have you seen Shenzhen or Shanghai? China has and is modernizing itself although they do it under the Chinese system

[@jnev5572]

​@@frankhill4358generational trauma is a helluva thing

[@user-po7xn8ri7r]

Can anyone inform if the lord Elgin that burned the summer palace was the same that destroyed the Parthenon in Greece?

[@Untapped8819]

The one that took the marbles from the Parthenon was the father of the one who destroyed the summer palace.... family tradition maybe?? 😬😳

[@MrTangolizard]

Short answer is they didn’t the British just took advantage of a already large market

[@PrimoPete]

Not large, it was relatively large, but the Brits just overran their economy with more than it could sustain, same thing in India and other British colonies.

[@pearsonfrank]

Remind me what logic have you used? The Brits were the East India Company they enslaved Benagli farmers to grow the Opium, which starved many Indians.... ah sorry I now realise you support Afghanistan growing poppies to supply the huge western markets.

[@awen777]

BS!

[@MrTangolizard]

@@awen777 it’s not bs at all nobody was forced to take opium

[@rdatta]

This is one of the finest documentaries in this space. Many others cover the Opium Wars and aftermath but the discussion here of the eye-watering amounts of the reparations, the predation by western powers and Japan is astounding. This subject deserves to be better known.

[@Phyto.]

The previous part of this docuseries dealt with the opium wars.

[@AnhNguyen-hn9vj]

It is one gigantic drug cartel spread to many western powers. The most scary thing is they have infiltrate the government and the military. Just scary to think how big this cartel is in modern day. I think there is a reason why Japan attack the American harbor. The drug cartel in America may want to interfere with the Japanese occupation in China. There is why u keep hearing on the news about American interest. No body knows for sure if it is the drug cartel interest.

[@butterflystampede1945]

We know enough about how you treat anyone who is not Han chinese

[@dtbetter2277]

China how not even gotten .01 back from what was stolen from her by Japan and the Western Powers...dangerous time now in the SCS and Taiwan straits....

[@cassandra8620]

The British can be blamed for a lot, but don‘t mention😮

[@saintadolf5639]

The Sassoon family? Those who actually controlled the opium trade and made an enormous fortune from it? The same Sassoon family that only permitted jews to work for them in the opium trade? Isn't it strange how the British are always blamed for the opium trade...but they were not permitted into the opium trade because they were not jewish.

[@tarakabuddha]

Same goes for Turkey

[@aldozilli1293]

Emotional damage

[@TheMrkcl]

​@@tarakabuddha reason?

[@DEMONIKMINION]

@@saintadolf5639 Everything is Britains fault according to the clown who spew this crooked BS.

[@Guvnor6]

In every chinese household they're reminded of the 8 allied nations stealing and invading China lest they forget

[@Chunkballfairy]

I hope they are also reminded of Chinese stealing and invading Korea Korea and a dozen other countries for 300 years prior to this. The Chinese were not peaceful victims they were big bullies that met a bigger bully

[@atodaso1668]

But they are not taught about Tiananmen square where the army massacred protesting students.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@@atodaso1668 Exactly! Mao is still lionized Xi appears to be trying to imitate him.

[@dtbetter2277]

@@atodaso1668 CIA....don't be naive...it's been the play book of the west...since the Spanish and UK colonization of the world...blame the CIA agents in using the students and in turn they are the murders in Tiananmen sq.

[@Rav01508]

​@@atodaso1668 did they tell u about the failed CIA operation to overthrow govts and flase flag operation???

[@arsalanmirza3411]

What was British India’s role in the OPIUM WARS 💥 and the Indian Gujarati BANIA and Parsi Traders involvement in procuring and shipping Opium should be highlighted as well to understand why CHINA 🇨🇳 and INDIA 🇮🇳 are in Territorial CONFLICT ☠️ even today ‼️

[@UndaCuvaChikin]

Man, I love this channel. The documentaries are so damn good.

[@SCORPIUSANCTUM]

Agreed!

[@robertvandriest-harrington3651]

My Mother's family [the Harringtons] as a Upperclass family made one of their financial killings during the Opium Wars!

[@GSteel-rh9iu]

These are exquisitely produced documentaries on a fascinating time in History. However they shape the narrative so it is not very clear to what extent colonialism harmed people in India and China. In stark terms over the period 1769 - 1945 over a 100million people in India died from famines caused by colonial food export systems.

[@davidhill1634]

Send this documentary to the state department

[@phooichunlau7827]

Thanks. Very interesting history🙏🥰

[@DuyPham-xd8lp]

China being synonymous with quality silver feels just so weird

[@generalofgermany4385]

Hey guys, I absolutely love this series of documemtaries and I noticed that parts of the movie "The Opium War" are used. There also seems to be another movie about the second opium war used in this documentary but I cannot find it. Do any of you know what this other movie is called and where I could watch it? Thanks in advance :)

[@areuokay4984]

The silver part was extraordinary

[@barbaracrain2975]

Great information

[@beckybnyc322]

China is using the same strategy with fentanyl 💔

[@nuo.not1033]

Modern people are not stupid Qing Dynasty people, everyone knows what fentanyl can do, but why do they buy it? By the way, the US has banned the import of Chinese fentanyl, they are buying the raw material that China sells to Mexico, if the buyer has no demand, the seller can't sell the product anyway.

[@Waiting_To_Retire]

Riveting. Loved it.

[@Skygt2RS]

Same reason any drug dealer wants addiction amongst their customers Repeat business

[@dunkleosteus430]

I love this series.

[@pmmsfc]

Moral corruption is the heart of weakness

[@jayarajmaduturi3514]

Fun fact :The Opium Wars primarily involved British trade with China, However the British did play a significant role in the Indian tea trade. In the 19th century, the British East India Company controlled India and sought to establish a profitable tea industry. They promoted tea cultivation in India as an alternative to Chinese tea, which had become expensive due to increased demand.

[@phouance2673]

just like today US want to trans the supply chain to india😅

[@roro4787]

@@phouance2673 I hope India and China work together to solve problems than repeating history

[@bill4056]

And India's pm Modi is becoming a puppet again of the BRITISH.History repeat itself.

[@r2dxhate]

There was also more than one East India Trading Company.

[@bill4056]

The owner of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank is also British, an Original owners of OPIUM. One of the Surname is Forbes, They are billionaires now because of the opium they had sold to chinese.

[@CallMeByMyMatingName]

Very well produced documentary. I really appreciate voice-over translation when someone speaks a different language. It helps greatly with maintaining the flow and consistency, and allows one to not have to read the spoken words in a video... I wish this video had incorporated that.

[@Alphoric]

Ok 👍 this is KZbin that’s not a possibility and that just costs money. Not everything in this world is designed for you

[@Phyto.]

Most American comment I've read in ages. Just say you are too lazy to read and get on with it.

[@bill4056]

It gives more credibility to this video if the person interviewed speak what she said originally

[@ericmunene8521]

It really helps for those who listen to these educational movies while working.

[@HDsharp]

Just listen to the Brit. He said 'why should Britian be restricted in trade with China. Excuse me, what kind of entitlement is that? What gives Brits the right to trade with China in the first place? China can trade with whom they want, how they want Because they had the goods. That's how business works, they had the leverage.

[@theodorekorehonen]

It seems the brits had the leverage in the end though, no?

[@rusticbox9908]

The Brits were the bullies of the day, now they've merely been replaced by someone stronger.

[@HDsharp]

@@theodorekorehonen As usual by warmongering. Once a thief always a thief.

[@bibsp3556]

Loks like they didn't have a big enough lever after all.

[@HDsharp]

@@bibsp3556 That's not the point. The point is the Brits couldn't afford to buy tea, they should have shopped at Poundland!😂

[@pearsonfrank]

Hart the Irish man who helped the Chinese modernise, had seen the genocide the English inflicted upon his homeland.. He had every incentive to even the scales.

[@youknowmyname9915]

Unexpected Wilhelm scream at 24:55 🤣

[@markshaw270]

Yes I heard that too 😂

[@lockejohn18]

Mr Krabs describes the British interest best "Money. Money money money money money"

[@johnwilson5637]

It wasn't "Britain" that got China addicted, it was the Honourable East India Company - the largest conglomerate the world has ever seen. Drug trade and Slavery were two of the reasons they were nationalised by the British Government and an end put to their drug and slave trafficking.

[@jeannettestuckelschwaiger5071]

The Hounourable East India company was british dutch company that trade in opium for chinese silver porcelain spices and other luxurious chinese products. British and dutch were gentlemen who traded in drug.

[@inkstain84]

Interesting how literally none of this is taught in US history.

[@but_at_what_cost]

所以不奇怪，当犹太人觉得全世界都欠他们的时候，中国人只会想你们的苦难根本排不上号。

[@efnefgedhg139]

in white people history.

[@adrianseanheidmann4559]

We learn like a tiny bit about it in German history classes, but just because Germny had the Tsingtao colony.

[@Chunkballfairy]

@@but_at_what_costit’s hilarious how we’re supposed to feel bad for china because they got colonized while ignoring the fact that they were colonizing Korea , Taiwan, Myanmar and Tibet like they got a taste of their own medicine and now we should all be sad.

[@enilacenilac6168]

Too young you only focus on USA😅

[@brucefranklin1317]

Summer palace destruction was very bad.

[@Gettingback997]

A very educational video

[@postscript5549]

I enjoyed the first forty minutes of this podcast. I will return to see more of this interesting and educational video. Thank you.

[@bill4056]

I subscribed to this Channel absolute History. Ni e video

[@nvelsen1975]

"Any goods that the West had except one: Opium" Not entirely. The major source of the drug was a cartle of savage drug dealers from India, a certain Tata. Drugdealing made Tata so rich that they still form the biggest conglomerate in India and their role is measured in percent of total GDP.

[@thnwgrl]

Empires of silver....as I'm in the middle of reading RF Kuang's Babel, this title brings the chills

[@dao3740]

Terrific ! Thank you. …

[@Ashley-vs8nu]

Ahh British hostility--a tale as old as time

[@paulomartins1008]

The brits aren't as old as time... lmao

[@Ashley-vs8nu]

​@@paulomartins1008 nuance is an art

[@gregbors8364]

“Now let’s all honor the men who died to keep China British.” - John Cleese, “The Meaning of Life”

[@rapier1954]

@@Ashley-vs8nu Quit trying to sound smart people like you the way you are.

[@iainreid6292]

@@rapier1954 Shut it Yank.

[@martinphilip8998]

Elgin’s family is also associated with theft of marble statuary of the Parthenon.

[@maralfniqle5092]

They plundered every country they went into

[@revolutionaryhamburger]

Not just Elgin. In 1687, during the Venetian siege of the Acropolis, Moslem Turks were using the pagan Parthenon as a store for gunpowder. This was ignited. The explosion blew out the heart of the building, destroying the roof, shattering the statuary and pulverizing parts of the walls and knocking down the colonnade. Wonder what was left to loot.

[@martinphilip8998]

@@revolutionaryhamburger When you watch the British version of Antiques Roadshow they will sometimes analyze something they found in the garden. Sometimes this is loot from the destruction of the summer palace. The French had the dirtiest hands in this attack on culture.

[@ethanf.6848]

In every setback, there is a valuable lesson to be learnt.

[@equarg]

Dang. Fascinating 3 part series! Learned more listening (at work) then I ever did and in school

[@DEMONIKMINION]

LOL, learn more BS, well done fool.

[@mattbonanza9032]

My teacher was right, history is the mother of the future 🙈. Never the same, but similarity is astonishing...

[@gregcooks-qr9wk]

The shipping company was P&O

[@NicholasKuhne]

Excellent storytelling.

[@lauravastag8587]

And now they are returning the favor with fentanyl 😳

[@LS1056]

I would highly recommend everyone to check out Kings and General podcast, they covered this period and a deeper dive. This is wonderful!

[@RichardBrett899]

Drugs such as opioid, cocaine, heroine, etc., are very addictive. Just look at the drug addicts living in the streets of America!

[@DavidVeitch54]

TOPCON is going to use a huge amount of silver in its next generation solar panels and probably why physical silver prices are being depressed. Fabulous story about the centrality of silver in civilizations rises and falls and to be continued.

[@pearsonfrank]

I am a Brit. For 60 years I have been waiting for those we oppressed, enslaved and impoverished to exact their revenge. China is correctly leading the way legally with diligence. Not all Brits are or were bad people but no one has ever sought to apologise or pay Reparation

[@SmilerORocker]

I appreciate your comment. 🇮🇪👍

[@paulforan7291]

Stop it you numty. Stop trying to be bloody PC. I'm also a British citizen and also innocent of PAST transgressions our political correct Beta-Britian carried out but reparations? You for real? Tell you what why don't Africa, Rome, Greece, USA and every single country pay reparations for all of the people enslaved for past so called crimes? Where does it begin? Ancient Rome? Be quite with your whingeing of our amazing country and stop trying to get likes by being so beta PC. Rant over 😆 🤣 😂

[@paulforan7291]

​@pearsonfrank. Stop it you numty. Stop trying to be bloody PC. I'm also a British citizen and also innocent of PAST transgressions our political correct Beta-Britian carried out but reparations? You for real? Tell you what why don't Africa, Rome, Greece, USA and every single country pay reparations for all of the people enslaved for past so called crimes? Where does it begin? Ancient Rome? Be quite with your whingeing of our amazing country and stop trying to get likes by being so beta PC. Rant over 😆 🤣 😂

[@Lupescs]

Appreciated, I'm a Chinese. I'm studying in Bristol. I love UK and British people, I've been a lot of cites in Britain, I love all those places.

[@xggong8261]

I am Chinese. When we studied history, we learned about the Opium War. The Opium War was a watershed in modern Chinese history. Of course, from today's perspective, the Opium War is still undeniably evil and has caused serious harm to China. However, on the other hand, Britain has since opened the door to China's feudalism and began to enjoy and accept Western civilization and its fine qualities. The rule of law, equal human rights, and respect for private property have allowed China to gradually move from feudal barbarism and backwardness to modern civilization. I am grateful to the United Kingdom for this.

[@paden1865able]

And people wonder why China despises most of the other countries in the world. Memories are long and grudges remain. I don't blame them.

[@wenliu9571]

It is neither contempt nor hostility, and the magnanimity and tolerance of the Chinese people are far beyond the understanding of other countries. This is why China has dozens of different ethnic groups and religious beliefs, a huge territory, but can always achieve complete unity, and return to strength again and again. This is why the Mongols, who occupied more than half of Eurasia, were not massacred and expelled after the collapse of the regime, but gradually integrated into China and became Chinese. In 1771, a Mongolian under the rule of Russia returned to China on the east bank of the Volga River, and was accepted and settled by the Chinese emperor, and has multiplied to this day. This is a good example. Now it is just a repetition of history and a return to the status it once had.

[@wenliu9571]

Maybe what people think of as contempt is just a sense of cultural superiority. He is definitely not despising and discriminating in a narrow sense.

[@upadhyayrathiraj1518]

The British forced Indian farmers of Bengal to abandon their traditional farming and produce opium. This resulted in severe financial losses and loss of food products in India. The opium was sold in China by the British...the original drug-runners.

[@russcooke5671]

That how the so called ROYAL FAMILY Got so rich. Drug peddlers destroying millions of lives. The Chinese are getting even now though. Fentenyl is destroying America.

[@PrimoPete]

​@@bonbonbonfireyes impressive...... impressively evil and slimy.

[@lukepollard6498]

Can someone please link me to the sequal?

[@teamhandsome1974]

Slightly mis-listed as it’s more about China and its reliance on the Silver Standard, although it does cover the basics of the Opium Wars. It is very insightful for us westerners. And good to see history other that WWI and WWII (not that I’m totally against such content, but it’s good to find wider content).

[@noreply-7069]

14:17 That air looks so disgusting. So much smog.

[@Sheba386]

It was disgusting what they did to the Chinese. I remember learning this at school.

[@liamburns8554]

Don’t worry China have made up for it in the last 70 years 👌

[@cjason123]

3000 to set fire to 1 palace? That's nuts

[@jafo766]

Now Britain has us hooked on insurance and debt......

[@thelastbison2241]

Amazing how a handful of people can drive history; always has been the case.

[@fredm.2699]

Now do you see why when people say Jews run the world it’s anti semiotic? Why? Because none of the people mentioned here are Jews. Anyone can rule the world if they care to work that hard.

[@georgerobartes2008]

Little or nothing to do with the Opium trade and what there is , is according to Chinese historians. Can't wait until the next production " Why did Britain get the World Addicted to Tobacco " or " Why did Britain get the World Addicted to Railways " , then " Why did Britain get the World Addicted to International Trade " perhaps ?

[@cherchuhaikieu4328]

Why…? Answer: MONEY.

[@TechkiV]

And now they thank them by sending fentanyl

[@Bomber_Fish]

This is the number one reason why in Southeast Asia the war on drugs looks very different than its western counterpart.

[@eugenearyee5309]

Man I myself I’m addicted to opium , shout out carti

[@Alsatiagent]

It's a lot less destructive than synthetic heroin. Highly addictive, yes, but not nearly as dangerous as fentanyl or oxy.

[@SEDATEDSlothRecords6083]

Im self recovering from firstly oxy and now have morphin to supplement which is much better. Having traditional opium more available would be nice. But Im quiting it slowly by now

[@colleenpeck6347]

​@@SEDATEDSlothRecords6083 Morphine is addictive also. Try Tramadol it isn't addictive when taken AS DIRECTED!

[@bigboss-tl2xr]

​@@SEDATEDSlothRecords6083Easy to grow🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Willys-Wagon]

You know being able to print dollars is infinitely better.

[@UnimportantAcc]

Having the entire world reliant on your own made-up currency certainly has its benefits 😌

[@philipstowers4741]

Great documentary, but good grief, the air in some of those cities looks downright hard to breathe.

[@DEMONIKMINION]

Suppose thats Britains fault too if you ask these cretins.

[@youarebeingtrolled6954]

Brought the Tea

[@Jason-mg2vj]

You already uploaded this video with a different title?

[@litneyloxan]

Mans on the left in the thumbnail looks like Mr Bean. Good luck unseeing it.

[@drakenkraken8455]

21:28 Sheesh .. Look at the smog

[@BJMStan]

Inefficient markets are a problem for people participating in those markets. Inefficient means of exchange is critical

[@RedRomanov]

And of course it won't be a history video without a hidden Wilhelm scream

[@diegoknyte]

An example of how the brita of that time just had to take and take and take, looting and pillaging. And the artifacts? Of course, STILL in a british museum… not the first countey they did this to. How luch India property is in Brit museums. “We’re saving it from themselves..” i’v heard. It’s THEIRS to do with what they please.

[@atodaso1668]

Are you aware that all Tiananmen square murals and memorials have been removed in China? They have made it so it was like it never happened, the kids are not taught about it in school anymore. I worked with a guy that was there when the army opened fire into crowds of students. Are you aware how many historical items have been destroyed? All it takes is a new group to rise up and destroy all the artifacts, it happens still to this day.

[@V-if4qu]

Keep crying😂

[@DharaSM6991]

Funny how this crook suddenly care about human right and democracy.

[@jamiewalker707]

Yeah and they would have been destroyed in the cultural revolution 😂 they’re much safer in the UK. You can come visit them if you like 🤭

[@brunojm7282]

Unfortunately the one with the bigger stick wins

[@kenmason1461]

Because Britain would have went broke if they had to pay for the tea in silver

[@robtherub]

They were The Tea Wars

[@CryptoX-kr3wu]

China has never forgotten this period in history when it was bullied by the West and its sovereignty was trampled on. Scholars would argue that’s part of the reason why China has risen to world superpower status in such a short amount of time.

[@BradleyLoomis-wq9yf]

Better believe it!!..it's truth!!!

[@imfirstatachaijr.johnner4240]

Bet they never covered this story in their schools, huh?🤣

[@DEMONIKMINION]

Because it's exactly that, a STORY.