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2100 BCE
Sumerian Clay tablet
The Sumerians were the first race to include a documented list of medications, which included opium -
600
Medical use in China
Opium was used medically in the 600s, brought by Arab traders. -
1400
Recreational Use
In the 1400s, recreational use of Opium started. Thus farther leading to the Opium Wars, between China and Great Britain. -
1443
Xu Boling
Xu Boling wrote that opium was used to "boost male masculinity", among other things. This was apparently one of the first documented uses of recreational opium in China -
Opium and Tobacco
The very short tobacco prohibition in China had ended. People soon started mixing opium with tobacco, creating an even deadlier drug. -
Banned
China bans the opium drug, in hope of decrease of usage. Because so many Chinese villagers are overdosing on it. -
Britain discovers the value of opium
The opium trade had high value, and in 1773 the British discovered how much the opium trade could benefit them. -
The opium trade increase between China and India
The opium trade drastically increased. Opium at the time, was one of the most important trade products in between China and Great Britain -
Daoguang emperor
The sixth Qing dynasty begins, it was known for it's "external disaster and internal rebellion". -
East India Company
East India Company had a deal with China, but they lose it. They lost it because of the British government. This is the companies flag. (They were owned by Brits) -
More opium
More merchants are allowed to come to China, causing more opium to be sold, and consumed. More people become addicted. -
Confiscation of Opium
The Chinese government confiscated 1400 tons of opium, that were stored by British merchants in the Guangzhou warehouse -
Disruption in China
Drunken British sailors kill a Chinese villager. The British government didn't want the men to be tried in China, so they don't hand them over -
More disruption
A British warship destroys a Pearl River blockade in China. -
War begins
British ships rush up the Pearl River attacking a port, capturing it, and blocking other ports. -
Change of Leaders
Sir Henry Pottinger replaces Charles Elliot as superintendent of trade in Britain, in the midst of the war. -
Rebellion
The British sent an expedition to China (Guangzhou), to fight back at China for confiscating their merchants opium. -
Reinforcements
The British got reinforcements from India, to help them overcome the Chinese government -
Treaty of Nanjing
The First Opium War ends, the Chinese and British governments sign the Treaty of Nanjing. This treaty required China to pay an insurance fee of 21 million dollars, to cede Hong Kong to the British, and to open five Chinese ports, including Guangzhou and Shanghai, to British trade and residence. -
First Governor of Hong Kong
Henry Pottinger, becomes the first Governor of Hong Kong. This is due to the British over rule in China after they won the First Opium War.
