Opium after the Manila Galleon: The Spanish involvement in the opium economy in East Asia (1815-1830)

Spanish involvement in the opium trade in China during 1815–1830 was significant and previously underrecognized, contributing to the opium economy's growth—a precursor to the British East India Company's dominance. The study, leveraging archives from Seville and Cambridge, reveals that employees of the Spanish Royal Philippine Company in Calcutta and Canton engaged in private opium trade, collaborating closely with British firms. This collaboration provided critical financial support from Manila, marking a pivotal phase in China's economic history and setting a model for future transnational trade dynamics.

Permanyer-Ugartemendia, A. (2014). Opium after the Manila Galleon: The Spanish involvement in the opium economy in East Asia (1815-1830). Investigaciones de Historia Económica - Economic History Research, 10(3), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihe.2014.07.001