Opium Wars - Imperialism in China

The first drug war of the 19th century started off when the British gave china opium which was told healed many sickness. In return china would give the British tea. Great Britain didn't want to trade the gold and silver because of its rarity so they introduces opium to china by taking some from India. China agreed and because opium was highly addictive and was a drug. China wanted a more extravagant amount. After the Chinese population drowned out of opium addiction the drug became illegal to sell with out medical purposes. The black markets all around china still sold opium because more kept arriving from the British. The emperor started to destroy opium selling companies and take control of his empire. Soon the British attacked china with canons from war boats. China had lost many cities in the strikes and became aggressive as well, but lacked the fire power to compete with the British. China was defeated and signed the Treaty of Nanjing nobly. The issue was still present and later on China would go into another Opium war.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

- In the film "Mountains of the Moon", what were some of the hardships that Europeans faced as they explored Africa?

The Europeans as they searched for the "source of the Nile" faced malaria which being passed around by mosquitoes infected and killed. Sometimes there were native African tribes living along the desert waiting for ambushing travelers(why many people did not cross the desert). The bugs and insects amount the desert such as large scarabs and scorpions would painfully attack during the night.


- why is it strange that the source of the Nile River, (Lake Victoria - the third largest lake in the world) is named after a British Queen?

The Lake Victoria which in no way is close the Britain was and still today has not been changed to a more formal name. As its original founders were African villages which were near the lake. As the third largest lake it should be changed as it is a major landmark, but since most of Africa was conquered by the British the name of Victoria still exists upon the lake.


- what was the primary technological advantage that Europeans had over African people? Why were Europeans eventually able to conquer Africa so easily?

Europe was far more advanced in weaponry and forms of materials. Europe would later find a cure for malaria AND research the building of machine guns.The new discoveries of Europe would later leave the shields of African warriors broken, the warriors them selves killed and forced into slavery for the new world.

Imperialism Project

art work done by
marrandom-shouting


~poor Africa, it gets conquered












Imperialism
Capitalists explore and conquer other countries during economic domination. Bigger militarized central governments dominate smaller countries. That which we have learned about, during the discovery of the new world countries saw the growing idea as a new beginning and began growing colonies. While many couldn't have total control overseas, revolutionary movements started building. Meanwhile during industrialism many native slaves of America died because of diseases and sicknesses brought by the Spaniards and British. The merchandising and marketing income rose greatly while slaves were now being brought from Africa to run the factories. Medical advances led to many conquering most of Africa. Riots and breakdown of economy broke all over Africa. In our project i have learned the merchandising of gold and silver from the new world made many rich. Spices and others were traded from the Chinese by fooling them which later lead to war against Great Britain. Many other countries grew and started using imperialism to devour other countries. Such as Spain which traveled to the new world and conquered most of the south. Spain also managed to gather into Africa and with more fire power then the Africans, it was obvious what had happened. Soon most of the middle east, Europe, New World and Africa were imperialist centralized governments, which would not last very long because of the great distances from the controlling countries.