Week 1

Week 1 Coursework Student’s Name Institution Course # and Name Professor’s Name Submission Date Part 1: The Opium Kings The opium poppy was first cultivated in Mesopotamia by the Sumerians in 3400 B.C. The spread of poppy planting grew from the Assyrians to the Babylonians, who, in turn, taught the Egyptians. In Egypt, the poppy plant bloomed through expansion and trade growth. The Minoans and Phoenicians engaged in trade, which resulted in the development of the poppy. It resulted in the spread of the opium plant in the Mediterranean Sea. The spread of the poppy plant led to the advancement of tools and machines used in harvesting. In Cyrus, they developed surgical-quality knives that they used to harvest opium efficiently. Opium gained notoriety in India and Persia as it was introduced to the people of by Alexander the Great. The drug was first introduced to China through the trade movements (PBS, 2015). Therefore, the spread of poppy to different parts of the world started gradually and proliferated. Opium was considered a taboo, which led to it disappearing for a substantial amount of time. In cultures that were learning during the Holy Inquisition period, they deemed the drug as unholy and prohibited its consumption. Trade influenced the spread of poppy in different places, such as the China Sea (PBS, 2015). However, the Chinese deemed the effects of the poppy as barbaric and uncivilized, which resulted in its use being shunned by people. Opium mixtures were used for recreational purposes when they were eaten and drunk (Wright, 2011). The Dutch were the first ones to introduce the smoking of cigarettes to the Chinese. Images of the drug have been seen in Roman sculptures and Egyptian art. The Pharaoh's tomb has artifacts about opium that were used to commemorate his extraordinary life. During the Victorian era, the use of opium for recreational use was every day since people used it for different purposes. Opium was instrumental as a medicinal drug since they were prescribed as a painkiller for patients with different ailments. English apothecary made recommendations about the endless remedies that opium offered. In China, the use of opium was prohibited, but it was only allowed if one had a license to use it for medical purposes. Opium is believed to heal diseases such as internal bleeding, chronic headaches, and asthma (Heydari et al., 2013). Thomas Sydenham advocated for the use of Laudanum. He strongly believes in using Laudanum to cure all suffering and pain. The medicine is believed to cure diseases such as menstrual cramps and anxiety. Opium can be used to suppress the central nervous system, thus controlling pain among patients with chronic diseases. Literature played a pivotal role in the spread of opium since it was reintroduced in European countries through pieces like “Stone of Immortality by Paracelsus. English apothecary made recommendations about the endless remedies that opium offered. In the book Genera Plantarum, ...