1839–1860
Two wars fought between the British Empire and Qing China — triggered by Britain's insistence on the right to sell opium in China and China's attempt to suppress the trade. British naval superiority proved overwhelming at every engagement. China's defeat forced open its ports, ceded Hong Kong, legalized the opium trade, and inaugurated what Chinese historians call the 'Century of Humiliation' — a wound in national memory that shapes Chinese foreign policy to this day.
Chapter-by-chapter narrative with maps, primary sources, and key events.
Explore battles on a live map with a timeline slider and territory overlays.
Deep-dive into every major engagement — commanders, casualties, significance.
Biographical flip cards with real portraits, facts, and full biography pages.
Trace each figure's full life journey — birth, education, battles, and death — on a live map.
Scroll-driven visualization of casualties — each dot a thousand lives.
Weapons, war machines, and the military innovations that defined how this conflict was fought.
Cause-and-effect chains tracing the war's long shadow on history.
War crimes, massacres, and the darkest chapters of this conflict — documented for history.
Two wars fought between the British Empire and Qing China — triggered by Britain's insistence on the right to sell opium in China and China's attempt to suppress the trade. British naval superiority proved overwhelming at every engagement. China's defeat forced open its ports, ceded Hong Kong, legalized the opium trade, and inaugurated what Chinese historians call the 'Century of Humiliation' — a wound in national memory that shapes Chinese foreign policy to this day.
The Opium Wars was fought from 1839 to 1860.
The Opium Wars was fought between Britain & France and Qing China.
An estimated 23,000 people died in The Opium Wars, including roughly 20,000 military and 3,000 civilian deaths. Figures are scholarly estimates and vary by source.
Major engagements included Battle of Palikao, Third Battle of the Taku Forts, Battle of Chinkiang, and First Battle of the Taku Forts.