10. The Opium Wars and the Opening of China (1839-1860)
The Opium Wars, sparked by Britain’s trade ambitions, forced China to open its ports and cede territories through a series of unequal treaties. This era, known as the ‘Century of Humiliation’, brought deep social and political turmoil, weakening China’s sovereignty. The consequences mirrored colonial pressures experienced throughout the Global South, altering the nation’s trajectory for generations.
