Page 10 - All About History - Issue 34-16
P. 10
HISTORY IN PICTURES
A POLITICAL ADDICTION
China’s long and passionate affair with opium dates back to
the 7th century, when it was first used as medicine. In the
17th century, it was mixed with tobacco and began to be
smoked recreationally. Seeing an opportunity, the East
India Company pushed production up a gear. When
the emperor ordered an end to the imports, the
British declared war. They won, and it wasn’t
until the 1950s that China finally got a
hold on the country’s addiction.
c. 1900
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