The British and the Qing Empire Flashcards
There is not a……..history of the human relationship with opioids, there are multiple…………..histories
Single
Intersecting
How can the relationship with China and the British be characterised
Hugely exploitative
Suffered from extractive economic exploitation. Its wealth drained as Britain’s grew exponentially
To understand how China would react with…….. ……………..in both the 19th and 20th, we need to understand this formative pact of…………and…………exploitation
Foreign powers
Economic
Military
What is the Psychoactive Revolution
David Coutrwright
The trend towards the consumption of more types of drug, in ever more powerful forms,
What was the Single Whip Tax Reform
16th C
The Ming economy west still predominately agricultural
The state decided to change its policy and start collecting its taxes in silver instead
What were some consequences of the Single Whip Reform
Farmers now needed money in order to pay taxes, so they grew cash crops – certain luxury commodities (tobacco) became popular cash crops ]
Production began to develop into larger-scale workshops – increased importance pf wage labour in the period.
Regional specialisation, as inter-regional trade grew, cities became more important. By the late ming china was the richest area of the world
What commodity was Ming China short of
Silver
What was the consequence of the Ming shortage of silver
The Ming relied on silver and ginseng from foreigners
The Manchus monopolised ginseng, and 25% of imported new wolf siskver was being sent to the Manchus to buy ginseng
The Manchus used this silver to build a formidable army, effectively allowing the Ming to sign their own deaths warrant
How were luxury Chinese products seen in Europe
Extremely sought after (Porcelain, tea and silk)
Consumption of tea by British was shared in all aspects of society – fuelled the industrial economy
What was the Qing attitudes to trade and foreign imports
Didn’t want any western goods, only interested in silver
Restricting trade prevented any unwanted foreign ideas from spreading in the country
The limited trade that did take place was highly regulated and limited cultural interactions as much as possible
What was the Qing attitudes to trade and foreign imports
Didn’t want any western goods, only interested in silver
Restricting trade prevented any unwanted foreign ideas from spreading in the country
The limited trade that did take place was highly regulated and limited cultural interactions as much as possible
What repeated refrain has the Qing’s highly restrictive model of trade given rise to
That the Qing empire was closed off from the outside world
Only a partial truth
- Europe did not represent the whole ‘world’
- China had extensive trading links with other economies
- Equally, restricting trade to silver made economic sense as the empire was able to hoard silver and maintain preeminence in the global economy
How did Britain react to Chinese trade resistance
Made a number of overtures in an attempt to loosen Qing control of trade
- 1792, Lord Mcarthy petitioned the emperor.
Argued that increasing trade would be to their mutual advantage.
Chinese refused, not because of trade but because of religion - Thus towards the end of the 18thC the British situation in China had not improved
However, British finally found a commodity that was demanded heavily in China (Opium)
What effect did opium have on China
Forced the closed doors of the Qing empire to open
The country transitioned from a position of prominence to a period of imperial subjugation (Britain and Japan)
The Qing empire found itself entering the modern age clouded in a bliss of sedatives
How did opium still enter China despite being banned
Opium grown in India (caused mass poverty thee as agricultural produce was replaced by this cash crop)
Was smuggled into China by ‘Country Traders’ - East India Company
The Chinese merchant guild also profited as well as foreigners (gatekeepers to China’s trade)
