Opium鸦片

Whilethe20thcenturywasonelongwarforcontroloftheworld'soilsupplies,opiumwasakeystrategicrawmaterialduringthefourprecedingcenturies.OpiumconsumptiondatesbacktoAncientEgypt.Initiallyausefulpharmaceuticalproductcalledlaudanum;itquicklybecamepopularinBritain.ItthenbecamethebasisfortradewithisolationistChinaassoonastheOpiumWarsobtainedtradingrightsforWesterncompaniesandtheChinesebegansmokingitinindustrialquantities.Thisbookoffersatastefullyillustratedhistoryofthistoxicsubstance,itsparaphernalia,andtheerasurroundingit.