The Opium Wars

The Chinese people didn't want to accept any imports from other countries. Then the British imported a drug that the Chinese won't reject. The drug is a pain killer and it was called Opium. It started working in the beginning, but then Chinese people started getting addicted to the drug. The emperor of Yongzheng wrote a letter to the British to tell them that they don't want any more Opium, but the British said no and a war began. The First Opium War began in 1834 and lasted through 1843. The Chinese suffered a humiliating defeat because of their outdated ships, but the British ships had cannons.

"The White Man's Burden"

The reason that the poem is titled "The White Man's Burden" is that it talks about the time of American colonalization.

"The Scramble for Africa"

The Scramble for Africa began in 1881 when France moved into the continent. Other European countries that came in was Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Italy. The African country that remained independent during that time was Ethiopia.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

In the movie, the Europeans experienced life in a dessert and they found it hard. There were a lot of insects that come out in the nightime and the explorers have to wear nets.