British colonial government in India forced farmers to cultivate opium poppies to sustain a massive, highly profitable, and drug trade with China(Qing dynasty) during the 18th and 19th centuries. The East India Company monopolized production in Bengal, using coercive methods—such as miltary threats , advances of money, intimidation, and destruction of food crops to compel farmers to grow poppies instead of food.
Peasants were pressured into signing contracts to grow poppy, with threats of kidnapping, imprisonment, and destruction of their homes if they refused. The British government bought the opium at artificially low prices, which often did not cover the cost of production, leading to impoverishment.
The East India Company maintained a strict monopoly, ensuring all opium produced was processed and sold to private traders who smuggled it into China.
While it brought revenue to the colonial state, it caused significant misery and directly contributed to shortages of agricultural land for food, which has been linked to the hardships of farmers.
Maybe call it “The EIC Drug Cartel”.
Is it “ICE detainment camps” or “American concentration camps”?
Wait till you learn about USA and Afghanistan.
I’m a fan of this channel; they talked about this recently.
wtf is this kurzgesagt? they do history? omg thank you!
Company Rule - the period in which Indian territory was directly governed by the East India Company, prior to the Raj and India becoming part of the British Empire.
British India - The provinces in India under direct administration by the British Empire, 1858-1947
British Raj - Comprising of British India and the subject but internally autonomous Princely States, 1858-1947.
Unless you have opium to share I don’t want to hear about it. Bring enough for the class ya jerk. /s obviously
