The British Empire played an immense if not the largest role in the development of Global Westward and Eastward exploration, discovery, and development. This was accomplished largely in part due to the merciless and all powerful East India Trade Company (EIC). This nationally funded agent of imperialism acted as the boots on the ground and catalyst for opening up major passageways of trade and colonial expansion on the global stage, and the major contributing factors to this are the cultivation and consumption of cotton, tea, and opium.

Cotton Crop in India
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            The EIC held a forceful monopoly over most of Southeast Asia at the peak of their prosperity due to their successful efforts with cotton cultivation in India. They nearly conquered entire cultures and manipulated indigenous peoples into labor by the masses while taking advantage of the rich and fertile soil of the region that was prime for cotton crop growth. The huge English demand for cotton as well as industrial and technological progress taking place at the time sent the cotton back to the mills of England, thereby funding the EIC and providing for further growth.

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            This led to satisfying the growing demand for tea in England, a feat made possible by trade relations with China. The Chinese at the start of this trade industry refused trade with Westerners however and would strictly accept silver and gold as payment, no other goods.

Shanghai Opium Den, 1907
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            Through clever (scheming) logistics, the EIC established firm opium cultivation in Bengal by the hand of a man named Warren Hastings, a prominent English statesman. Along with EIC, he colonized the Bengalese region and began shipping out vast amounts of the highly addictive plant (when consumed via drinking or smoking) to China. The Chinese became hooked on consumption of the substance and as a result, allowed opium as opposed to silver for the tea trade, thereby quenching the overwhelming thirst for tea in England. 

Tea in its various forms
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