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The Sumerians were the first race to include a documented list of medications, which included opium
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Opium was used medically in the 600s, brought by Arab traders.
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In the 1400s, recreational use of Opium started. Thus farther leading to the Opium Wars, between China and Great Britain.
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Xu Boling wrote that opium was used to "boost male masculinity", among other things. This was apparently one of the first documented uses of recreational opium in China
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The very short tobacco prohibition in China had ended. People soon started mixing opium with tobacco, creating an even deadlier drug.
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China bans the opium drug, in hope of decrease of usage. Because so many Chinese villagers are overdosing on it.
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The opium trade had high value, and in 1773 the British discovered how much the opium trade could benefit them.
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The opium trade drastically increased. Opium at the time, was one of the most important trade products in between China and Great Britain
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The sixth Qing dynasty begins, it was known for it's "external disaster and internal rebellion".
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East India Company had a deal with China, but they lose it. They lost it because of the British government. This is the companies flag. (They were owned by Brits)
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More merchants are allowed to come to China, causing more opium to be sold, and consumed. More people become addicted.
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The Chinese government confiscated 1400 tons of opium, that were stored by British merchants in the Guangzhou warehouse
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Drunken British sailors kill a Chinese villager. The British government didn't want the men to be tried in China, so they don't hand them over
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A British warship destroys a Pearl River blockade in China.
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British ships rush up the Pearl River attacking a port, capturing it, and blocking other ports.
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Sir Henry Pottinger replaces Charles Elliot as superintendent of trade in Britain, in the midst of the war.
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The British sent an expedition to China (Guangzhou), to fight back at China for confiscating their merchants opium.
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The British got reinforcements from India, to help them overcome the Chinese government
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The First Opium War ends, the Chinese and British governments sign the Treaty of Nanjing. This treaty required China to pay an insurance fee of 21 million dollars, to cede Hong Kong to the British, and to open five Chinese ports, including Guangzhou and Shanghai, to British trade and residence.
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Henry Pottinger, becomes the first Governor of Hong Kong. This is due to the British over rule in China after they won the First Opium War.
