Which empires were involved in the Opium Wars in the 19th century? 🔊
The Opium Wars in the 19th century primarily involved the British Empire and the Qing dynasty of China. The First Opium War (1839-1842) was triggered by China's attempts to suppress the opium trade, which Britain profited from by exporting opium from India to Chinese markets. As a result, the British sought to protect their opium trade, leading to military confrontation. The resulting Treaty of Nanking favored Britain and opened several ports to British trade. The Second Opium War (1856-1860), which also included French involvement, further weakened China, forcing it to accept foreign trade terms and sign additional treaties that compromised its sovereignty.


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