Cultural medical and literary aspects of opium

. After reading the attached, The Opium Kings, post tracing the origin, history, and progression of the \"opium poppy,\" making sure to discuss the cultural, medicinal, and literary aspects of its history from 3400 B. C. to at least the First Opium Wars.

The history of Opium first began in lower Mesopotamia. Throughout history, opium was seen in various capacities and methods. Primarily it was seen or used a medical treatment (Bagchi, 2010). During BC 3400 due to its medical importance many wars emerged to control lands used to cultivate the opium poppy. Here, the land used to cultivate the poppy was considered essential for economic development and thus wars were waged to control the corresponding land. As economic development continues to manifest throughout the world, trade routes were established between countries to help transfer product know-how and opium poppy throughout the world. This trade know-how ultimately allowed rival countries to grow, cultivate, and manufacture their own opium markets within their respective countries. During military conflicts, controlling these respective trade routes became critical to the outcome of the conflict. For example, great Britain after its conquest of India, used the land trade routes to flood China with opium (Atkinson, 1909). From a cultural perspective, by flooding the market with Opium, Britain expanded its influence within China, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Qing Dynasty (Alexander, 1856). The ability to utilize opium to heal ailments also contributed to large advances within the medical field as well. Advances in health and medicine further contributed to economic development as humans lived longer and more productive lives. In addition, by leveraging opium for medical purposes, medical cures and outcomes could be spread to other countries. Overtime however, the medical usage of opium transitioned in to recreational use. Due to the recreation use of opium, humans began to develop various addictions to the drug, which would inhibit societal growth and economic development. Overtime, countries began to ban the use of opium due to these devastating consequences related to its usage.

2. In doing some further research outside of this week’s readings, how did the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 and the growth of drug addiction in China impact organized crime and or criminal elements in general within China during that time?

The nineteenth century is marred with contentious conflict between British and the Chinese. Here opium was becoming much more prevalent throughout both countries. A period of economic prosperity, combined with low level of war created ideal trade opportunities between multiple countries. Due to these microeconomic circumstances trade between China and other neighboring countries during the period of the Qing Dynasty was booming. This led to large amounts of economic prosperity, establishment of trade routes, and an overall increase in economic development. This economic development ultimately helped the Qing dynasty continue its expansionary efforts while maintaining dominance within its respective area in the world.

Unfortunately, the increase in trade created an increase utilization and adoption of opium within the country. During the Qing dynasty a rapid and protracted increase in opium usage emerged. This increase is primarily attributable to the rapid increase in economic prosperity the country was experiencing at the time. In particular, great Britain supplied large amount of opium to the country. This ultimately resulted in two military confrontations between Britain and China related to opium (Baines, 1893).

Prior to the Qing dynasty, opium was used primary for medical purposes. However, as the economy began to prosper, opium was used heavily as a recreational drug. Following its conquest of India, Britain cultivated and exported opium to China, flooding the country with the drug. By flooding the region with opium, the overall price of the drug began to dramatically decline. A combination of a large opium supply and low unit costs, ultimately increased accessibility for Chinese consumers. What ensued was an addiction crisis throughout the region that was difficult for the Qing dynasty to properly mitigate. The government attempted to initiate a ban. They also enacted laws outlawing the smoking of opium. However, British traders worked with black marketers to bypass the newly enacted Chinese laws (Amin, 1984).

Eventually, a military confrontation between China and Britain ensured. Two wars related to opium resulted in the defeat of China. As a concession, China was forced to give up Hong Kong to the British. After their defeat with the second opium war, China was forced to give up even more concessions. In this instance, Christian missionaries were allowed to flood the country, and western businessmen were free to open factories with the territories of China. Ports were leased to foreign powers, allowing them to operate within China according to their own laws, and opium addiction rose (Baden-Powell, 1892).