Final answer:
The Opium Wars were a series of conflicts between European nations and China, primarily involving Britain, and focused on the trade of opium produced in India. The correct answer is option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Opium Wars involved European nations, most notably Britain, against China. These conflicts were primarily about trade disputes concerning opium, which the British produced in their Indian territories and then sold illegally in China. The Opium Wars consisted of two major conflicts. The First Opium War (1839-1842) started when the Chinese government took action against the opium trade by seizing the drug in British warehouses in Canton and dumping it into the ocean.
In response, Britain sent military forces and the resulting war ended with the Treaty of Nanjing, which forced China to cede Hong Kong to Britain and open additional ports to foreign trade. The Second Opium War (1856-1860) broke out after a Chinese seizure of a British-claimed ship, leading to another military conflict that resulted in further concessions from China to European powers.
Overall, these wars significantly weakened China's sovereignty and paved the way for increased European influence in the region.