Opium and the East India Company

Opium is a highly addictive drug with the scientific name Lachryma papaveris. It is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy. It was used in limited quanitities until the 17th century when China was infuenced by tobacco smokign westeners. Opium is no longer used as a recreational drug, but  as a medical drug that is prescribed by doctors and relieves pain.

In the early 18th century, the Portugese started the opium trade to China, but by 1750 the British East India company took control over the Bengal and Bihar opium growing districts of India. These opium poppies could be grown cheaply and in plentiful quantities.

The East India company, also known as the British East India Company, was a British join stock company which traded with India and China, (Qing Dynasty). It was founded on December 31st, 1600 by John Watts.