Description

The 19th century saw the rise of one of the largest most powerful empires of the modern era The sun never set on the British Empire whose holdings spanned the globe in one form or another Its naval supremacy linked the Commonwealth of Canada with the colonies in South Africa and India and through them trade flowed east and west An integral but underutilized part of this vast trade network included China a reclusive Asian kingdom closed off from the Western world that desired none of its goods Unfortunately for China the British had the might of an empire and economic force not to mention modern arms on their side Breaking into Chinas lucrative trade markets nearly destroyed the nation severely discredited the Chinese dynasty wreaked havoc on its people and further propelled Britains empire into a dominant economic and military position The collision of these two empires took many years and caused much bloodshed In fact the troubles started well before the eventual hostilities festering as frustration mounted until finally boiling over