Poppies, Power, and Profit: The Opium Wars and Its Global Legacies

Poppies, Power, and Profits: A Mini-Course for K-12 Educators was a hybrid, free two-day K-12 mini course exploring the Opium Wars of the 19th century, their causes, and far-reaching consequences, connecting historical events with modern global issues. Through examining the relationship between imperialism, trade, and culture, participants gained insight into how the Opium Wars reshaped international dynamics, especially between China and Western powers, including the emerging empire of the United States. In collaboration with the Global Studies Center and World History Center at the University of Pittsburgh, sessions included presentations, activities and teacher-led strategies for curricular development.