home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
/
Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
/
O
/
Opium_Wars
/
INFOTEXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-09-01
|
689b
|
18 lines
Wars waged in the mid-19th century by the UK
against China to enforce the opening of
Chinese ports to trade in opium. Opium from
British India paid for Britain's imports from
China, such as porcelain, silk, and, above
all, tea. The First Opium War 1839-42,
between Britain and China, resulted in the
cession of Hong Kong to Britain and the
opening of five treaty ports. Other European
states were also subsequently given
concessions. A Second Opium War 1856-60
followed between Britain and France in
alliance against China, when there was
further Chinese resistance to the opium
trade. China was forced to give the European
states greater trading privileges, at the
expense of its people.