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European imperialism in asia
Colonialism and its impacts on indigenous people
European imperialism in asia
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The principle justification offered by the Europeans for their colonization of Asia & Africa was the moral and technological superiority of the western world. As the Europeans saw it, the spread of the European way of life would substantially increase living standards for the colonized. While economic reasons were obviously the primary impetus for colonial expansion, the Europeans believed that they were not only improving the natives’ conditions, but they were saving their mortal souls by bringing Christianity to them. Over time, the technologically advanced way of life came to be associated with Europe, and with Europeans. This is the cause of the racist and social Darwinist undertones in the documents. First, Europeans use religion as a justification for colonization. This has been used many times before, specifically when Spain colonized Latin and South America. In Document 6, Mr. Patton notes that some islands in the Pacific are Christianizing, and Britain ought to encourage that. Countries in Europe felt that it was their obligation to expose indigenous people to their religious system because it would give them salvation. Missionaries often went to islands with the sole purpose of religious indoctrination of the natives, but left a colonized and westernized island behind. Christian missionaries may have had benign motives, but the presence of missionaries was the first step to ‘opening’ a colony. Economic exploitation typically followed presence of missionaries. While religion isn’t mentioned frequently in the documents, religion underscores most justifications for colonization. For example, cartoon 4 indicates that it is ‘the white man’s burden’ to bring natives to school, in order to receive a proper educa... ... middle of paper ... ...heir lives. Kipling’s poem then mentions how it is our duty, as the ‘higher race’ to make the lives of other people better. Kipling says that we can show the path to civilized life, by way of western concepts, most notably education. This point is also seen in document 4, which indicates that it is the burden of the white man to take barbarians to school, where they will learn how to be civilized, and hopefully spread that knowledge throughout their community. Jules Ferry’s writings in document 5 exemplify the point above. Ferry says that, ‘as men of a higher race, we have an obligation’ to make life better for the colonized. Ferry makes some important distinctions here. He says that the Spanish erred by introducing slavery into Central and South America. Ferry says that colonizers should embody good moral character, as to set an example for the colonized.
During the colonial era, many mainly great colonies established based on the idea of social and religious freedom. “Throughout the Colonial period, economic concerns had more to do with the settling of British North American than did religious concerns.” This statement has some traces of invalidity but overall, it is very valid at many different points. Even though most of the colonies were established on the premises of religious freedom, however as time progressed, money became an issue and thoughts of money making aroused among colonial settlers. The economic concerns of the colonies out numbered the prominent religious concerns that arose that time, and subjugated colonial life up until the end of the British colonial period in colonial America.
The Europeans came to the Americas with an imperialistic attitude. They wanted to take over the land and they thought their goods and beliefs were better than those of the Natives. Document 7 shows that the Mother Country sent over many goods of their own for trade from the colonies. The goods from the Mother Country overpowered and took the place of the Native’s goods. Document 3 provides an example of how important the crops and other goods from the Americas were to the Europeans. By taking away many of the Native’s goods and replacing them with their own, the European’s changed life over in the America’s. Also, the Native’s had already been in the Americas for many years before the arrival of the Europeans. They had established a religion, language, and way of life. The Europeans thought they were better than the Native’s. Their main goal was to come to the New World and spread Christianity, and they were determined to do so. Document 1 explains that from the minute they arrived to the Americas, the Europeans were instilling their religion into the Native people through friendship and gifts. Not to mention, Document 6 states, “missions were built to help spread Christianity.” It also says, “missions and settlements helped spread European languages.” By looking at Latin America today we can see how much the Spanish and Portuguese has helped mold what it is
By 1885, little to no independent countries existed throughtout the whole African continent. This was due to the imperialism done by strong European countries. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain are to blame. There are many possible contributing factors as to why the European countries decided to completely carve up Africa, split it up, imperialize the whole of the continent. Because of the need for resources Africa could supply, the European desire for power, and the European's reaction to the White Man's burden, they took control of almost every square mile in Africa through imperialization.
In the 1400’s European countries had been thrusted into overseas expansion in the fever for land and gold. All throughout Europe, monarchies had sent explorers all over the world to conquer land for their country. Each country had conquered and colonized in various styles, but each had a specific goal that they wanted to achieve. During the European colonization of the Americas or the New World, both the Spanish and the French spread the idea of Catholicism throughout the Americas, however the Spanish believed in treating the Native Americans in a harsher way by enslaving them for labor whereas the French established trade relationships.
Europeans during the 16th Century had made unique technological and intellectual advancements, they expanded their knowledge and continued to spread their dominance across the world. These advancements perpetuated the idea that their race was superior to other races and that they had the right to hold other groups of people accountable for what they saw as transgressions. Europeans felt the need to control and make sure that all groups of people were following their moral state of conducts. In History of A Voyage to the Land Of Brazil, Jean De Lery introduces the main motivation of the Europeans journey to the Americas by emphasizing that it was influenced by Christian values ( Lery 3). This shows how the concept of Christianity is important
Throughout the history of mankind, numerous events such as the Crusades, have occurred in the name of religion and religious freedom. Sadly, the motivation for the early settlers coming to America wasn’t strictly about finding religious freedom. It was actually deeply rooted in the desire for economic growth and new trade opportunities. The New World presented itself as an opportunity for many to gain higher social economic status and growth in their business ventures. A number of known historical facts, including: hunger for new trade, poverty of many English inhabitants, and the rivalry between Spain and England, contributed and fostered the foundation and settling of the American Colonies.
The results of European colonialism shows that the aim of colonialism is to exploit the human and economic resources of an area to benefit the colonizing nation. As a result, the nation that is colonized is affected negatively. In reality, how Europe really affected Africa as a whole is much
Another reason that European imperialism in Africa was justified, is the fact that Europeans did not take over Africa solely for their self interests. As plainly stated in excepts from Lord Carnarvon's records. "...it is certainly not a desire of selfish interests..." Clearly, those who argue that Europeans just wanted to benefit themselves through the imperialism of Africa, are incorrect.
This Social Darwinism also led to the concept of “White Man’s Burden,” which held the “superior” races responsible for civilizing the “inferior” ones. Martial Henri Merlin also states that “We are entitled to go out to these peoples and occupy their territories; but when we exercise this right, we, at the same moment, are charged with a duty towards these peoples, and this duty we must never for one instant forget.” This view might have occurred due to an exposure to the “White Man’s Burden” concept which had spread throughout Europe. There was also exploitation, which is illustrated by a letter from George Washington Williams, a Baptist minister, lawyer, historian and legislature, sent to King Leopold II of Belgium. According to his account, “There were instances in which Mr. Henry M. Stanley sent one white man.to make treaties with the native chiefs.
Many of England’s problems could be solved in America, and so colonization began. When the earliest settlers came, England had the responsibility to continue the Protestant Church, and prevent the Catholic Church from converting the entire Native American population of North America (Morison, p.105) A potential Protestant refuge could be based there in the threat of civil wars or a change of religion.
It is not a stretch to say that if one is to study the history of Europe, or in fact the world, religion is likely one of the most important aspects of nearly any incident or movement in the past 2000 years. What of the colonies that Europe created overseas, however? Are those areas also just as bound to religion as well, or is there something more, something which hold a higher sway that religion? Is Religion the reason behind the colonization that the Europeans did, or was the entire purpose of the colonies to create a source of income, and for economic reasons in general? It is this essay's purpose to state that while economics were a large reason for the colonies, the reason for the creation of the colonies were for a religious purpose for the puritan settlers, but for those that backed them it was a venture in which they hoped would reap them profits.
Introduction: The epoch of imperialism cannot be defined simply as a proliferation of inflated egos tied to the hardened opinions of nationalists, but also a multi-faceted global rivalry with roots of philosophies tainted with racism and social Darwinism. The technique of each imperialist was specific to the motivations and desires of each combative, predominantly Western power and subsequently impacted the success of each imperialist and its colonies. Driven by industrialization, Europeans are aware of the urgent need for raw materials and new markets to maintain a constant rate of expansion and wealth. Imperialism became a competition; in general, the European countries led with fervor while the non-Western regions deemed likely to be stepped on.
In the early 1880’s, the powers of Europe started to take control of regions in Africa and set up colonies there. In the beginning, colonization caused the Africans little harm, but before long, the Europeans started to take complete control of wherever they went. The Europeans used their advanced knowledge and technology to easily maneuver through the vast African landscape and used advanced weapons to take control of the African people and their land. The countries that claimed the most land and had the most significant effect on Africa were France, England, Belgium, and Germany. There were many reasons for the European countries to be competing against each other to gain colonies in Africa. One of the main reasons was that the Europeans believed that the more territory a country was able to control, the more powerful it could become and the more powerful it would be seen as by other countries. Other reasons for the desire to control African land included the many natural resources that could only be found in Africa, such as diamonds, gold, and as time progressed, rubber. It also provided new markets in surrounding places so that manufactured goods could be sold for a larger profit. The Europeans had many motives for imperialism in Africa. Yet the true motives were often shielded as they tried tom present themselves as humanitarians when in reality they were making Africa a terrible place to live with brutality and harsh treatment of the African natives. The ways of the Europeans had many physical and emotional costs for the people of Africa. The imperialism process also took a toll on the people of Europe. The European imperialistic colonization in Africa was motivated by the desire to control the abundant natural resources an...
In the “White Man’s Burden”, Rudyard Kipling claims that it is the duty or burden of the white men to civilize the non-whites, to educate them and to religiously lift them (lecture notes, 2/8). Kipling is specifically talking about the colonized non-whites (lecture notes, 2/8). The idea that the newly colonized non-whites were lacking and needing help from a greater society was common among American whites at this time (lecture notes, 2/8). Rudyard uses the whites’ public feelings towards the issue and writes “The White Man’s Burden” in an attempt to move the whites to help the non-whites because he thinks it is a very beneficial movement for the U.S.
... nations of the time saw their expansion and imperialism as a profoundly nobly pursuit. The native people of Asia and Africa were considered to be savages and uncultured. The influence of European ideals and ways of life would, in the minds of their conquerors, help these people achieve better lives and a lead them to a better existence.