Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and Empirespt. 4pt. 4

David RoperDavid RoperHistory 140History 140

Chapter 9Chapter 9 By the middle of the eighteenth century, all of the By the middle of the eighteenth century, all of the

earth’s surface had been explored, charted, and in earth’s surface had been explored, charted, and in some cases colonized by Europeans. All that is, some cases colonized by Europeans. All that is, except one area: the Pacific.except one area: the Pacific.

Bougainsville’s alegiac and Cook’s description of Bougainsville’s alegiac and Cook’s description of his encounter with the Tahitians created an his encounter with the Tahitians created an enduring image of the Pacific as a place where it enduring image of the Pacific as a place where it was possible to act out all the European fantasies was possible to act out all the European fantasies of sexual freedom and complete liberty from social of sexual freedom and complete liberty from social constraint.constraint.

It was an image that was still powerful enough over It was an image that was still powerful enough over a hundred years later to persuade the painter Paul a hundred years later to persuade the painter Paul Gaunguin to abandon home, family, and secure job Gaunguin to abandon home, family, and secure job for a life in the South Seas.for a life in the South Seas.

There, however, he found a very different Tahiti, There, however, he found a very different Tahiti, riven by European disease, it’s tranquility turned to riven by European disease, it’s tranquility turned to despair by Christian missionaries.despair by Christian missionaries.

Competition between the European powers had Competition between the European powers had now acquired an extra and, with the rapid spread of now acquired an extra and, with the rapid spread of industrialization, potentially more sinister direction.industrialization, potentially more sinister direction.

Science now became a recognized source of power Science now became a recognized source of power and a new terrain on which the European powers and a new terrain on which the European powers fought one another for preeminence.fought one another for preeminence.

After Cook was killed on the beaches of Hawaii in After Cook was killed on the beaches of Hawaii in 1779 he became not merely yet another casualty of 1779 he became not merely yet another casualty of the dangerous business of seafaring but a martyr to the dangerous business of seafaring but a martyr to the new science, and to a new vision of empire.the new science, and to a new vision of empire.

Chapter 10Chapter 10 Nationalism is the idea that all peoples have separate, distinct, Nationalism is the idea that all peoples have separate, distinct,

and indissoluble features, that each is united by a common and indissoluble features, that each is united by a common language and a common culture and lives under a single, and language and a common culture and lives under a single, and indigenous, ruler.indigenous, ruler.

The concept of “civilizing” and “civilization” had in one guise or The concept of “civilizing” and “civilization” had in one guise or another been an objective of all Europe’s imperial ventures another been an objective of all Europe’s imperial ventures since Rome, and it relied upon a widely accepted vision of a since Rome, and it relied upon a widely accepted vision of a universal human nature and universal law of human evolution.universal human nature and universal law of human evolution.

All peoples, it was believed, move from a condition of All peoples, it was believed, move from a condition of savagery through one of “barbarism” until they reach the savagery through one of “barbarism” until they reach the present civilized condition of the European. present civilized condition of the European.

Along the way their means of production changes from hunting Along the way their means of production changes from hunting to pastoralism to agriculture and finally to commerce; their to pastoralism to agriculture and finally to commerce; their forms of government evolve from tribalism to despotism to forms of government evolve from tribalism to despotism to monarchy; their beliefs more from simple superstition to true monarchy; their beliefs more from simple superstition to true religion and finally, of course to Christianity.religion and finally, of course to Christianity.

In the course of their history, they also put on clothes, acquire In the course of their history, they also put on clothes, acquire the arts and sciences, learn to write and to preserve a record the arts and sciences, learn to write and to preserve a record of their past, and finally learn how to build and live in cities.of their past, and finally learn how to build and live in cities.

In the early nineteenth century, however, a darker and more In the early nineteenth century, however, a darker and more lasting means of understanding difference began to make an lasting means of understanding difference began to make an appearance: racism. Racism worked with a quite different set appearance: racism. Racism worked with a quite different set of assumptions from those of historical evolutionism of the of assumptions from those of historical evolutionism of the Enlightenment. It assumed that the human family was not one, Enlightenment. It assumed that the human family was not one, but many.but many.

The British Empire in the early twentieth century remained The British Empire in the early twentieth century remained committed to the view that the justification for its survival was committed to the view that the justification for its survival was its mission to “civilize” the “barbarian” and in so doing to bring its mission to “civilize” the “barbarian” and in so doing to bring the peoples of the world together into a single worldwide the peoples of the world together into a single worldwide community.community.

Implicit in all of this was the notion that one day, in however Implicit in all of this was the notion that one day, in however distant the future, the colonized people of the world would distant the future, the colonized people of the world would indeed become “civilized”.indeed become “civilized”.

Chapter 11Chapter 11 The fall of the modern European The fall of the modern European

empires was as rapid as their rise had empires was as rapid as their rise had been, and in most places the reasons been, and in most places the reasons for their downfall were similar. for their downfall were similar. Ultimately all had maintained their rule Ultimately all had maintained their rule through Acquiescence rather than by through Acquiescence rather than by force or the threat of force.force or the threat of force.

Ethnic divisions and ethnic conflict that Ethnic divisions and ethnic conflict that could never have existed before the could never have existed before the coming of the Europeans rapidly coming of the Europeans rapidly became– and have remained– the became– and have remained– the dominant feature of the continent.dominant feature of the continent.

The frontier and the metropolis are no The frontier and the metropolis are no longer so distinct as they once were, longer so distinct as they once were, and in the future the differences are and in the future the differences are likely to diminish further.likely to diminish further.

The surrender of colonies, the undoing The surrender of colonies, the undoing of institutions, even the abandonment of institutions, even the abandonment of an enduring ideology do not always of an enduring ideology do not always lead to a renunciation of a creed, a lead to a renunciation of a creed, a conviction, a way of life.conviction, a way of life.

EpilogueEpilogue A lot has changed since the twelfth century. A lot has changed since the twelfth century.

The Crusades were religious conflicts, and The Crusades were religious conflicts, and they took place in a time when the Muslim they took place in a time when the Muslim world was quite as powerful, and in many world was quite as powerful, and in many respects a great deal more sophisticated respects a great deal more sophisticated both culturally and politically, than the both culturally and politically, than the Christian.Christian.

Today the Muslim world is incomparably less Today the Muslim world is incomparably less powerful and less sophisticated in almost powerful and less sophisticated in almost every respect than the West. The West has every respect than the West. The West has not merely grown stronger; it has also not merely grown stronger; it has also ceased to be predominantly Christian.ceased to be predominantly Christian.

The two worlds have grown to be The two worlds have grown to be increasingly different. They may be able to increasingly different. They may be able to tolerate each other when they don’t conflict, tolerate each other when they don’t conflict, but they can never assimilate with each but they can never assimilate with each other.other.

The imperial yearnings that have dominated The imperial yearnings that have dominated the history of the West as much as they the history of the West as much as they have that of the East will continue, in one have that of the East will continue, in one guise or another, for a long time yet to come.guise or another, for a long time yet to come.