River of Smoke
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Need more understanding
Megha
May 31, 2014 07:43AM
Can anybody throw more light on following statement -
In years past this presented a great problem for the British, for the flow of trade was so unequal that there was an immense outpouring of silver from Britain. This indeed was why they started to export Indian opium to China.
In years past this presented a great problem for the British, for the flow of trade was so unequal that there was an immense outpouring of silver from Britain. This indeed was why they started to export Indian opium to China.
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The Brits had a trade imbalance with China. Products from China (I presume largely tea) were being purchased in greater quantity (as measured by currency) that Brit goods were purchased in the China market.
So, the Brits forced the purchase of opium produced in the Brits' India operations on the Chinese. Make sense?
Hope you are enjoying River of Smoke.
So, the Brits forced the purchase of opium produced in the Brits' India operations on the Chinese. Make sense?
Hope you are enjoying River of Smoke.
Thanks for replying Martin. yea, I got that.
I was thinking if the British were trying to break the health system in China with higher inflow of Opium. Coz Opium in small amount was considered to be good and was used in medicines as was found in first book, Sea of poppies. If that was the case, then its outright cruel.
And yea, I am enjoying the book very very much. Don't want it to end :)
I was thinking if the British were trying to break the health system in China with higher inflow of Opium. Coz Opium in small amount was considered to be good and was used in medicines as was found in first book, Sea of poppies. If that was the case, then its outright cruel.
And yea, I am enjoying the book very very much. Don't want it to end :)
Wiki is your friend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_War
Or if you want a longer read:
It's a bit dry to read compared to Ghosh's masterpieces, but you get to read the account from both sides (Europeans and Chinese, no Indians sadly).
Or if you want a longer read:
It's a bit dry to read compared to Ghosh's masterpieces, but you get to read the account from both sides (Europeans and Chinese, no Indians sadly).
Megha
After reading the complete book, everything about their intentions is pretty clear now :) Thanks everyone for replying
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The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams, and the Making of Modern China (other topics)River of Smoke (other topics)
