This episode examines the complex interplay of silver, tea, and global trade that set the stage for the Opium Wars. It explores Ming China’s silver-based tax system, the influx of silver from Japan and the Americas, and how these economic forces shaped international commerce.

The discussion also covers the British trade imbalance, the emergence of opium smuggling, and the early tensions that ultimately led to the First Opium War. Part 1 provides essential context for understanding the economic, political, and social factors behind this pivotal period in world history.

Sources:

https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/History/World_History/Modern_World_History%3A_New_Perspectives_%28OERI%29/02%3A_Global_Interactions_-_1450-1650/2.06%3A_Silver_and_the_Ming_Dynastyhttps://www.britannica.com/event/First-Opium-Warhttps://www.britannica.com/list/timeline-of-the-first-opium-warhttps://scholarworks.harding.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=tenor