The Opium War (1 jun 1840 ano – 1 jul 1842 ano)

Descrição:

-The origin of the opium war is a Trade War (over tea)
- Britain chose to sell opium to make up for their trade deficit with China
- War began after General Lin Zexu (1785-1850) chose to burn seized stock of opium. Britain used this as opportunity to declare war
-maritime war
- most of the battles took place in the south
- The British warships were much more advanced because they had been engaged in war for the past 250 years, while China had been under relative peace (at least that they didn't need to sail far to fight)
- The war was to simultaneously teach a lesson about resisting British "free trade" and to capture China before other European powers
- Lead to unfair Treaty of Nanjing

China's demand for silver between 1400s adn 1600s allowed Europeans to enrich themselves by gaining access to Asian commodities and trade network

But during 1800s it was China's demand for opium that was sustaining and stimulating worldwide economic activities