Colonialism- The Darkest Chapter of World History
Colonialism
Aspect of history
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Colonialism, a significant chapter in world history, was a period of conquest and dominance when European powers expanded across the globe, establishing colonies and exerting control over indigenous populations.
Colonialism is defined as "control by one power overa dependent area or people". It occurs when one nation sub judges another, conquering its population and exploiting it, often while foreign its own language and cultural values upon its people. By 1914, a large majority of the world's nations had been colonized by Europeans at some point.
The concept of colonialism is closely linked to that of imperialism, which is the policy of using power and influence to control another nation or people that underlies colonialism.
In antiquity, colonialism was practiced by empires such as Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Phoenicia. These civilizations all extended their borders into surrounding and non-contiguous areas from about 1500 BC onward, and established colonies that drew on the physical and population resources of th people they conquered in order to increase their own power.
Modern colonialism began during the Age Of Discovery. Beginning in the 15th century, Portugal began looking for new trade routes and searching for civilizations outside of Europe. In 1415, Portuguese explorers conquered Ceuta, a coastal town in North Africa, kicking off an ampire that would last untill 1999.
Soon the Portuguese had conquered and populated islands like Madeira and Cape Verde, and their rival nation, Spain decided to try exploration too. In 1492, Christopher Columbus began looking for a western route to India and China. Instead, he landed in Bahamas, kicking off the Spanish Empire. Spain and Portugal became locked in competiton for new territories and took over indigenous lands in the America, India, Africa and Asia.
England, Netherlands, France, and Germany quickly began their own empire building overseas, fighting Spain and Portugal for the right to land they had already conquered. Despite the Growth of European colonies in the New World, most countries managed to gain independence during the 18th and 19th century, beginning with the American Revolution in 1776 and the Haitian Revolution in 1781. However, the Eastern Hemisphere continued to tempt European colonial powers.
Starting in the 1880s, European nations focused on taking over African lands, racing one another to coveted natural resources and establishing colonies they would hold untill an international period of decolonization began around 1914, challenging European colonial empires upto 1975.
Europe had made some progress in discovery before the main age of exploration. The discoveries of the Madeira Islands and the Azores in the 14th century by Genoese seamen could not be followed up immediately, however, because they had been made in galleys built for the Mediterranean and ill suited to ocean travel; the numerous rowers that they required and their lack of substantial holds left only limited room for provisions and cargo.
In the early 15th century all-sails vessels, the caravels, largely superseded galleys for Atlantic travel; these were light ships, having usually two but sometimes three masts, ordinarily equipped with lateen sails but occasionally square-rigged. When longer voyages began, the nao, or carrack, proved better than the caravel; it had three masts and square rigging and was a rounder, heavier ship, more fitted to cope with ocean winds.
Navigational instruments were improved. The compass, probably imported in primitive form from the Orient, was gradually developed until, by the 15th century, European pilots were using an iron pin that pivoted in a round box. They realized that it did not point to the true north, and no one at that time knew of the magnetic pole, but they learned approximately how to correct the readings.
The astrolabe, used for determining latitude by the altitude of stars, had been known since Roman times, but its employment by seafarers was rare, even as late as 1300; it became more common during the next 50 years, though most pilots probably did not possess it and often did not need it because most voyages took place in the narrow waters of the Mediterranean or Baltic or along western European coasts. For longitude, then and many years thereafter, dead reckoning had to be employed, but this could be reasonably accurate when done by experts.
Following Christopher Columbus’ first voyage, the rulers of Portugal and Spain, by the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), partitioned the non-Christian world between them by an imaginary line in the Atlantic, 370 leagues (about 1,300 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands.
Portugal could claim and occupy everything to the east of the line and Spain everything to the west (though no one then knew where the demarcation would bisect the other side of the globe). Portuguese rule in India, the East Indies, and Brazil rested on this treaty, as well as on Portuguese discoveries and on papal sanction (Pope Leo X, by a bull of 1514, forbade others to interfere with Portugal’s possessions).
Except for such minor incursions as those of Ferdinand Magellan’s surviving ship in 1522 and the Englishman Sir Francis Drake’s voyage around the world in 1577-80, the Portuguese operated in the East for nearly a century without European competition. They faced occasional Oriental enemies but weathered these dangers with their superior ships, gunnery, and seamanship
Territorially, theirs was scarcely an empire; it was a commercial operation based on possession of fortifications and posts strategically situated for trade. This policy was carried out principally by two viceroys, Francisco de Almeida in 1505-09 and Afonso de Albuquerque in 1509-15. Almeida seized several eastern African and Indian points and defeated a Muslim naval coalition off Diu (now in Goa, Daman, and Diu union territory, India).
Albuquerque endeavoured to gain a monopoly of European spice trade for his country by sealing off all entrances and exits of the Indian Ocean competing with the Portuguese route around the Cape of Good Hope. In 1510 he took Goa, in western India, which became the capital and stronghold of the Portuguese East, and in 1511 he captured Malacca at the farther end of the ocean.
Later he subdued Hormuz (now in Iran), commanding the Persian Gulf. They brought soldiers from the home country in limited numbers; but the Portuguese also relied on alliances with native states and enlisted sepoy troops, a policy later followed by the French and English.
Portugal never fully dominated the Indian Ocean because it lacked warships necessary to control the vast water expanse. Albuquerque’s failure to capture Aden at the Red Sea entrance allowed the old traffic through Egypt to Venice to resume following an initial dislocation, and this continued after the Ottoman Turks conquered Egypt in 1517.
Much of the Indian Ocean trade was local and, until the Portuguese incursion, had been conducted by Arabs or at least by Muslims. The Portuguese, who at first had intended to oust the Arabs entirely, found it impossible to manage without them. The Hindus, whom they hoped to use for local trade purposes, proved unenterprising and had caste restrictions regarding sea voyages. Muslims were soon trafficking again vigorously, with Portuguese sanction.
Portuguese subjects also pressed beyond the Strait of Malacca to the East Indies, Siam (now Thailand), and Canton in Ming-dynasty China. Trade with the celestial empire, difficult at first because of China’s exclusionist policies, at length grew, especially after Portugal in 1557 leased Macau, through which for the next 300 years passed much of the Occidental trade with China.
Individual Portuguese reached Japan in 1542, followed by traders and Francis Xavier (later made a saint), a renowned Jesuit missionary who laboured with small success to make converts. In the 17th century, the Japanese adopted a rigorous exclusionist policy, although they allowed Portugal’s successors, the Dutch, to conduct a limited trade from the small island of Deshima, near Nagasaki.
Benefits and Harms
Colonial governments invested in infrastructure and trade and disseminated medical and technological knowledge. In some cases, they encouraged literacy, the adoption of Western human rights standards, and sowed the seeds for democratic institutions and systems of government. Some former colonies, like Ghana, experienced a rise in nutrition and health with colonial rule, and colonial European settlement has been linked to some development gains.
However, coercion and forced assimilation often accompanied those gains, and scholars still debate colonialism’s many legacies. Colonialism’s impacts include environmental degradation, the spread of disease, economic instability, ethnic rivalries, and human rights violations—issues that can long outlast one group’s colonial rule.
The origins of colonialism can be traced back to the 15th century when European countries, propelled by various motivations, sought to expand their reach beyond their borders. Some of the key motivations for colonialism include:
1. Economic Exploitation:
One of the primary drivers of colonialism was the quest for valuable resources and economic gains. European powers believed that colonies could provide a steady supply of raw materials and serve as captive markets for their manufactured goods.
2. Spreading Christianity:
Another motivation behind colonialism was the desire to spread Christianity and convert indigenous populations to European religions. Missionaries played a significant role in promoting religious conversion and establishing religious institutions in colonies.
3. Strategic Interests and Competition:
Colonies were seen as strategic assets in the intense rivalry between European powers. Establishing control over colonies ensured access to vital trade routes, military bases, and global influence.
Colonialism has undeniably left a lasting imprint on the world, shaping societies, economies, and cultures in profound ways. The impact of colonial rule can still be observed today, as our global landscape bears the marks of this historical phenomenon.
1. Socioeconomic Disparities:
One of the most significant legacies of colonialism is the socioeconomic disparities that persist across the globe. During the era of colonial rule, European powers exploited colonial territories for their resources, often leaving the local populations impoverished.
The extractive economic policies employed during this period, coupled with unequal trade relationships, perpetuated a cycle of underdevelopment and dependency. Even after the decolonization process, many former colonies continue to struggle with economic disparities, hindering their progress and perpetuating a global imbalance of power.
2. Cultural Hybridity:
Colonialism brought different cultural groups into contact, leading to the emergence of cultural hybridity. European colonizers often imposed their language, religion, and customs on indigenous populations. However, as Europeans settled in these lands, intermixing of cultures occurred, resulting in a fusion of traditions, beliefs, and practices. This cultural amalgamation, while initially forced upon the colonized peoples, has created diverse and vibrant societies that celebrate their multicultural heritage.
3. Political Instability:
Another profound legacy of colonialism is the persistent political instability faced by many post-colonial nations. Colonial powers often installed authoritarian regimes or drew arbitrary borders that did not align with the ethnic and cultural dynamics of the region.
As a result, independence movements and post-colonial governments faced considerable challenges in establishing stable political systems. The fragmented and sometimes volatile political landscape inherited from colonial rule continues to contribute to conflicts and unrest in various parts of the world.
4. Education and Infrastructure:
Despite the numerous negative legacies, colonialism did bring some positive influences in areas such as education and infrastructure. European colonizers introduced formal education systems and modern infrastructure to their colonies. These initiatives have subsequently played a crucial role in the development of these societies, providing access to education, healthcare, and improved transportation networks. However, it is important to acknowledge that this development was often geared towards serving the interests of the colonizers, perpetuating inequality rather than empowering local populations.
Conclusion
The history of colonialism is a testament to the expansive ambitions of European powers and their impact on the colonized nations and societies. It represents a dark chapter in human history, characterized by economic exploitation, cultural disruption, and political subjugation. Colonized nations have fought against the legacy of colonialism and continue to strive for genuine independence. It is crucial that we acknowledge and understand the history of colonialism to build a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
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It's realy dark
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