How To Academy Podcast Amitav Ghosh - How the Opium Trade Shaped Capitalism
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Feb 13, 2024 Novelist and historian Amitav Ghosh explores the influence of the opium trade on colonial history, its connection to the world's biggest corporations, and its relevance to America's contemporary opioid crisis.
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Family's Shift Linked to Opium
- Amitav Ghosh's family settled in Bihar due to the region's significance in the opium trade.
- Their relocation was influenced by economic opportunities tied to opium cultivation.
Tea Trade’s Role in Opium Growth
- Tea drove British demand for Chinese goods, but payment problems fueled the opium trade.
- Opium became the key commodity Britain used for trade with China to balance silver flows.
Racial Myths in Opium Justification
- Europeans justified the opium trade by blaming Asian cultures with racial arguments.
- In reality, large-scale opium addiction was created and fueled by European supply efforts.