It also created a lot of drug addicts.Īnd then in 1839 the Chinese responded to what they saw as these unfair trade practices with.a stern letter that they never actually sent.
By the 1830s, British free trade policy unleashed a flood of opium in China, which threatened China's favorable balance of trade. Such has been the procedure for many years, although our celestial empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its own borders."īut then Europeans, especially the British, found something that the Chinese would buy: opium. Here's the Qianlong Emperor's well known response to the British: "Hither to all European nations including your own country's barbarian merchants have carried on their trade with our celestial empire at Canton. For example, in 1793, the Macartney Mission tried to get better trade conditions with China and was a total failure. Yeah, I don't know, I'm still undecided. Let's begin with China! When last we checked in, China was a thriving manufacturing power, about to be overtaken by Europe, but still heavily involved in world trade, especially an importer of silver from the Spanish empire.Įuropeans had to use silver because they didn't really produce anything else the Chinese wanted, and that state of affairs continued through the 18th century. So the 19th century certainly didn't invent the empire, but it did take it to new heights, by which we mean lows, or possibly heights, I dunno, I can't decide, roll the intro while I think about it. Hi, I'm John Green, this is Crash Course World History, and today we're gonna discuss 19th century imperialism. Also, the willingness to exploit and abuse the people and resources of so-called "primitive" nations was very helpful in the whole enterprise.Ĭrash Course World History is now available on DVD! As it turns out, improved medicine, steam engines, and better guns were crucial in the 19th century conquests. John will teach you how these empires managed to leverage the advances of the Industrial Revolution to build vast, wealth-generating empires. While all of the major (and some minor) powers in Europe participated in this new imperialism, England was by far the most dominant, once able to claim that the "sun never set on the British Empire." Also, they went to war for the right to continue to sell opium to the people of China. During the 1800s, European powers carved out spheres of influence in China, India, and pretty much all of Africa.
European powers started to create colonial empires way back in the 16th century, but businesses really took off in the 19th century, especially in Asia and Africa.
In which John Green teaches you about European Imperialism in the 19th century.