Inside China’s ‘Century of Shame’: How a Nation Rose From Humiliation to Power

1. The First Opium War (1839-1842)

The First Opium War erupted over disputes surrounding trade imbalances and Chinese sovereignty. Britain’s push to expand opium sales in China led to open conflict, ultimately exposing the Qing Dynasty’s vulnerabilities. The resulting Treaty of Nanking forced China to cede Hong Kong and open key ports to foreign merchants—an early and humiliating concession. This event marked the start of a series of unequal treaties and foreign encroachment.