Opium's Dark Legacy
Opium, derived from the opium poppy, has a long history as a pain reliever, but its potency increased dramatically after British control of poppy production in India. The British established a monopoly that led to a surge in opium trade with China, creating a devastating addiction epidemic that affected all social classes. Despite repeated bans from the Qing emperors, the opium trade flourished, resulting in severe economic consequences for China.In this clip
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The Opium Wars (Encore)
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