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Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

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Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#11

The East India Company were the world's first narcos.

You’re not wrong. They purposefully funneled opium into China to get their silver bullion to open up trade, whilst also destroying an entire generation.

Destruction of people was basically the EIC’s MO.

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#12
post #11

The East India Company were the world's first narcos.

You’re not wrong. They purposefully funneled opium into China to get their silver bullion to open up trade, whilst also destroying an entire generation. Destruction of people was basically the EIC’s MO.

Not really, it was 'just' sheer largely-unhinged capitalism.

Plus ça change.

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#13
post #11

The East India Company were the world's first narcos.

You’re not wrong. They purposefully funneled opium into China to get their silver bullion to open up trade, whilst also destroying an entire generation. Destruction of people was basically the EIC’s MO.

It doesn't stop with one generation.

As Chinese workers immigrated into America, they opened opium dens here too.

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Chinatown%27s_Opium_...

Then, the opium poppy, a plant not endemic to the Americas, started being cultivated in Mexico. Why Mexico? because the US banned Chinese immigration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act

We cannot ever blame the drug crisis on the British because it breaks the rules of history where history is written by the victors. We have to let people get away with stuff. We cannot describe the EIC as narcos, and if someone does, we have to downvote them.

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#14
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we considering the UK the entirety of Northern Europe now? That's a bold claim. If I recall correctly most of northern Europe stayed in poverty long after the end of the British East India Company

The tone of your comment was unnecessarily sarcastic and confrontational.

Or just pointing out his / her opinion. Words like "bold claim" and "if I recall correctly" are hardly sarcastic or confrontational.

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#15
post #3

If you want to delve into the history of EIC (and you should, esp. if you’re interested in how Northern Europe’s tremendous growth was fueled) I suggest reading The Anarchy by Dalrymple. It has great detail but also vey well written and engaging (qualities usually hard to combine in history books).

And for the perspective of the modern jewel of the empire May I suggest watching the views of Indias MP and diplomat Mr Shashi Tharoor https://youtu.be/1giYXrofZYo

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#16
post #11

The East India Company were the world's first narcos.

You’re not wrong. They purposefully funneled opium into China to get their silver bullion to open up trade, whilst also destroying an entire generation. Destruction of people was basically the EIC’s MO.

Fun historic footnote on that as well. After China tried to enforce their ban on opium trade, Britain declared war on them to try to force them to accept it. The Brits won and thereafter claimed Hong Kong as one of the spoils of war. A spoil that was returned only in 1997, after which an invisible (and on occasion not so invisible) game of tug-of-war ensued. Can't wait to read the next chapter!

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#17
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re not wrong. They purposefully funneled opium into China to get their silver bullion to open up trade, whilst also destroying an entire generation. Destruction of people was basically the EIC’s MO.

It doesn't stop with one generation. As Chinese workers immigrated into America, they opened opium dens here too. https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Chinatown%27s_Opium_... Then, the opium poppy, a plant not endemic to the Americas, started being cultivated in Mexico. Why Mexico? because the US banned Chinese immigration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act We cannot ever blame the drug crisis on…

The problem with this analysis is: where does the buck stop?

Why does moral responsibility always stop with Europeans? Does Europe posses some Adult Moral capability the Mexicans lack?

Whatever story of woe you want to tell about why "china did X", can be told likewise about europe. The buck, stops where then? The Romans? The Celts?

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#18
post #15
post #3

If you want to delve into the history of EIC (and you should, esp. if you’re interested in how Northern Europe’s tremendous growth was fueled) I suggest reading The Anarchy by Dalrymple. It has great detail but also vey well written and engaging (qualities usually hard to combine in history books).

And for the perspective of the modern jewel of the empire May I suggest watching the views of Indias MP and diplomat Mr Shashi Tharoor https://youtu.be/1giYXrofZYo

The video linked by parent is light on details. This one has more details if anyone's interested (A debate on the empire but many of the things apply to EIC) https://youtu.be/f7CW7S0zxv4

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#19
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we considering the UK the entirety of Northern Europe now? That's a bold claim. If I recall correctly most of northern Europe stayed in poverty long after the end of the British East India Company

The tone of your comment was unnecessarily sarcastic and confrontational.

making absurd statements that generalizes countries based on another country's company deserves confrontation. What does Sweden have to do with a British company? seems very culturally insensitive

Re: Exploring the richness and variety of letters sent to the East India Company

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't stop with one generation. As Chinese workers immigrated into America, they opened opium dens here too. https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Chinatown%27s_Opium_... Then, the opium poppy, a plant not endemic to the Americas, started being cultivated in Mexico. Why Mexico? because the US banned Chinese immigration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act We cannot ever blame the drug crisis on…

The problem with this analysis is: where does the buck stop? Why does moral responsibility always stop with Europeans? Does Europe posses some Adult Moral capability the Mexicans lack? Whatever story of woe you want to tell about why "china did X", can be told likewise about europe. The buck, stops where then? The Romans? The Celts?

> Why does moral responsibility always stop with Europeans?

Probably because they were the ones violently subjugating everyone else.

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