Latest / The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History
Romanovs and the Opium Wars: Tea, Trade, and Tolerance
While history often frames the Romanov empire through the lens of military conquest or religious schism, Episode 250 explores a quieter, more complex thread: the diplomatic and economic entanglement with Qing China. We trace how Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his successors navigated the Treaty of Kyakhta in 1727, establishing a fragile peace that allowed Russian merchants to import tea while managing the delicate issue of opium trade restrictions. Lucas and Luna discuss the strategic importance of Orenburg as a trading hub, the role of merchant families like the Bakhrushins, and how this…
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