201: Tea, Drugs and Jesus - The Flag Follows Trade

Ben Franklin got China wrong, and America still does today! Marshall again will lead our discussion in a new series, “Tea, Drugs, and Jesus,” looking at how the United States keeps misunderstanding China, in no small part because American political leaders often refuse to listen to experts on Chinese affairs. In the first episode, we set the stage for what is to come by exploring the environment in which the United States became involved in the China trade in the 19th century. We discuss China’s isolationism and stagnation, Britain and the East India Company, tea and silver, silk and porcelain – and opium.