In the 1800s, cities in Britain were crowded, dirty and disease ridden. The British observed that the mortality rate amongst tea drinkers was notably less than was typical. They attributed this to the medicinal qualities of tea, not realizing that it was the act of boiling the water and killing pathogens that was the key. This misconception helped fuel an ever greater desire for tea from China.
Meanwhile, China’s great need to establish a solid national monetary system caused them to only accept silver for their goods. However, when the British ran low on silver, they began smuggling opium from India into China in exchange for silver, which they then bought tea and such with. This eventually led to the Opium Wars when China tried to stop opium from entering the country. This, in turn, led to China’s defeat — and, thus, began their ‘one hundred years of humiliation’ at the hands of foreign imperialists.
“Role of Silver in Chinese History”
https://aheadoftheherd.com/the-role-of-silver-in-chinese-history/
“China’s Century of Humiliation”
(1 hour 16 minute video)
