Ibis Trilogy: The Sea of Poppies

How does Sea of Poppies explore the relationship between the Americas, Britain, Africa, India, and China in the “Re-ordered World” of the 19th Century?
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How does Sea of Poppies explore the relationship between the Americas, Britain, Africa, India, and China in the “Re-ordered World” of the 19th Century?
The Sea of Poppies is part of the Ibis trilogy. The gist of the Ibis trilogy focuses on the opium trade intricacies that run between India and China. This trade was being carried out by the East India Company. Thus, the Sea of Poppies is a reflection of 19th-century interactions amongst America, Britain, India, China, and Africa.
India was one of the critical European colonial possessions. Between 1750 and 1850, India was described as a British India (Tignor, 2014, pp.590).  British control in India did not lead to political independence; this contrast with what was happening in North America. Instead of the East India Company, which was established in 1600 by the British, it enhanced its dominance in India (Tignor, 2014, pp.590). The East India Company took control over India’s exports and imports between the 18th and 19th century and appeared to contract the concept of ‘free trade’ (Tignor, 2014, pp.590-591).  Amidst fierce opposition, East India Company strategically positioned itself and was able to control trade, amass fortunes and collect taxes. It succeeded in its control of India and its web of trade via the inclusion of Hindu kings and Muslim princes, into its civil administration. Having Britons alone in the management could have elicited a strong revolt, which the East India Company could not contain. Thus, the East India Company ruled with minimal interference; this somehow revitalized authentic Hinduism, restore India’s cultural heritage and fostered Indian literacy.
The East India Company trading activities led to a booming trade in India. In the 19th century, colonial areas, for example, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, became the new epicenters of trade. The emergence of these cities overtook the older cities like Hyderabad, Agra, Delhi, and Murshidabad, and Hyderabad (Tignor, 2014, pp.590-591). The new cities attracted British merchants and the Indian labor force; this led to a surging population. In Britain, the rural Indians were economically sidelined. However, there were calls for reforms that could touch on the East India Company aspects that include its monopoly and shareholding. The British parliament reacted by abolishing the trade company’s monopoly with India (Tignor, 2014, pp.590).
The Qing dynasty, who took control of China in 1644, was still basking in the glory of territorial expansions when the 19th century dawned (Tignor, 2014, pp.594).  Notably, the Chinese were not aware of the revolutionary activities that were occurring in France, Britain, and North America. The Chinese political stability rested on the social order and political structure that was developed by the Ming. Qing dynasty extended its empire and territories. He also boosted agricultural activities; the commercialization of agriculture accompanied this. The commercialization of agriculture led to increased revenues. Qingi’s dynastic rule was not smooth; his rule was characterized by increase taxation, and the rural population assumed a conservative approach to innovation. The bureaucrats were understaffed. Despite the existing problems, European rulers and upper-class citizens remained loyal consumers of Chinese products that include tableware, jewellery, tea, ceramics, and silk, amongst others (Tignor, 2014, pp.594). However, the Chinese demonstrated little interest in European products. Britain tried to negotiate in abid to get an opportunity of exporting goods to china bu china was reluctantly indicating that they had enough manufactured products. In the mid 19th century, a dramatic change occurred that strengthened European powers more than before, and Qing could not dismiss the demands anymore. The altered balance of power could no longer be attributed to the rise of Napoleon, but a conflict that pits the British against the Chinese. The Europeans had explored China through strategic trading; Europe had been selling staples and intoxicants, for example, tobacco. The opium war exposed Chinese vulnerabilities (Tignor, 2014, pp.594). The was a tremendous rise in the use of opium despite it being declared illegal in china. Qing was against the importation of opium, but through the hands of corrupt Chinese bureaucrats and private British merchants, opium infiltrated into China markets, and its popularity experienced exponential growth.
The massive entry of opium into china harm its balance of trade; this appeared to reverse the gains that had been made earlier when china was exporting, but importing little. Due to emerging unfavorable trading patterns for China, it had to increase taxation; this caused uproar and civil unrest (Tignor, 2014, pp.594-595). In response to this situation, two propositions were made that include the imposition of stiffer penalties th...