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The Legacy of Imperialism in World

History

Learning Objectives

Why were Asian and African societies incorporated into European colonial Empires later than those of the Americas? How would you compare their colonial experiences?

In what ways did colonial rule rest upon violence and coercion? In what what ways did it elicit voluntary cooperation and generate benefits for some people?

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Learning Objectives

In what respects were colonized people more than victims of colonial conquest and rule? To what extent could they act in their own interests within the colonial situation?

Was colonial rule a transforming, even a revolutionary, experience, or did it serve to freeze or preserve existing social and economic patterns? What evidence can you find to support both sides of the argument?

In Focus…

In what different ways did the colonial takeover of Asia and Africa occur?

Force

Corporate takeovers-such as in India under the British East India Company.

European forces took advantage of the fragmented political words in Asia.

Africa was the subject of a savage and intense colonial competition.

The British East India Company in Action

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The Scramble For Africa

“I shall of course go on walloping them until they surrender. It’s a rather piteous sight watching a village being knocked to pieces and I wish there was some other way, but unfortunately there isn’t”. British official in Nigeria (1925)

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The Battle of Omdurman

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Colonization: Belgian style

An unfortunately modern tone…

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In focus…

Why might subject people choose to cooperate with the colonial regime? What might prompt them to rebel or resist?

India’s Great Rebellion

Sepoy: A British trained Indian. The training could be academic, political, or military.

Sepoy Mutiny (Great Rebellion) of 1857

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Impacts of the Sepoy Rebellion

Widened the racial divide in India

Prompted the English government to take more direct, greater involvement in India.

Made the British more cautious in promoting reform

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Rebellion here, yet not there?

Why was British India ripe for Rebellion, yet you didn’t see this same result for example in the Belgian Congo?

In Focus…

What was distinctive about European colonial empires of the 19th century?

The White Man’s Burden Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.

Take up the White Man's burden--In patience to abide,To veil the threat of terrorAnd check the show of pride;By open speech and simple,An hundred times made plainTo seek another's profit,And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden--The savage wars of peace--Fill full the mouth of FamineAnd bid the sickness cease;And when your goal is nearestThe end for others sought,Watch sloth and heathen FollyBring all your hopes to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden--No tawdry rule of kings,But toil of serf and sweeper--The tale of common things.The ports ye shall not enter,The roads ye shall not tread,Go mark them with your living,And mark them with your dead.

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In Focus…

How did cash-crop agriculture transform the lives of colonized peoples?

In some cases the system actually benefitted local farmers such as in Burma and the Gold Coast.

In other regions; cash crops were forced upon the local populations without consideration for their agricultural needs—such as Netherlands East Indies.

This tale is also told in a pair of magnificent films about India—Gandhi and the Bollywood film Lagaan.

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Indian Famine 1896

In Focus…

How were the lives of African women altered by colonial economies?

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Women developed economic autonomy and power for the roles they played.

Men often left to find work in cities in Africa and left the women behind to fulfill all of the various roles

Colonial economies often times allowed women increasing opportunities, in small time industries.

In focus…

Did colonial rule bring progress in its wake?

Integrated Africa and Asia into the world’s economy.

Western ideas on modernization were integrated into the colonial experience

Japanese type progress was uncommon but consider the example of India.

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In focus…

What impact did Western education have on colonial societies?

Created a new class of elites that in many cases led the nations after independence

Many who attained education saw it as an opportunity to create change in these societies

India as an example many of these men became leaders of the Indian National Congress

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In focus…

What were the attractions of Christianity within some colonial societies?

Christianity did not find a wide audience in India.

It was more successful in Africa, missionary activities were more vigorous.

Christianity became Africanized

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Fin