Imperialism is the takeover of a country or territory by a stronger nation with the intent of dominating the political, economic, and social life of the people of that nation. As the industrial economy grew, the Europeans wanted to expand their business around the world for more success. They wanted more money, and started looking to other countries for more land, labor, and resources. Britain, for example, had become a strong economic force and their industries became very successful. They expanded to areas like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Western Asia in hopes for new markets, more labor, and resources like gold, diamond cotton, and rubber. Imperialism had originally began as a way for European colonies to flourish their economy throughout
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In The Economic History of India Under Early British Rule by Romesh Dutt, the British were praised for their existence and influence in India. Dutt believed the British “[had] given the people of India the greatest human blessing - peace.” Imperialism, in his opinion, was a positive action because the British had successfully modernized India through their Western education of “modern sciences and modern life”, and strengthened India’s political state by building a “strong and efficient” administration. Imperialism had allowed the oppressed to encounter new philosophies and technologies which later helped them make advancements of their own. Though the Europeans built strong infrastructures, promoted modernized education, and introduced Western culture to several nations they controlled, they treated the people of the land callously. In An Anthology of West African Verse by David Diop, an African boy describes what the Europeans had done to his family. He said, the “White Man killed [his] father…,seduced [his] mother…,burnt [his] brother…, [and] turned to [him]” demanding for a “chair, a napkin, and a drink.” The poem shows how indifferent the Europeans were to the Africans. They had become less and less ethical, while the Africans suffered in agony. Diop was a culturally educated African man and considering he was published in an anthology of West Africa, he spoke to other educated people through his writing
In The Economic History of India Under Early British Rule by Romesh Dutt, the British were praised for their existence and influence in India. Dutt believed the British “[had] given the people of India the greatest human blessing - peace.” Imperialism, in his opinion, was a positive action because the British had successfully modernized India through their Western education of “modern sciences and modern life”, and strengthened India’s political state by building a “strong and efficient” administration. Imperialism had allowed the oppressed to encounter new philosophies and technologies which later helped them make advancements of their own. Though the Europeans built strong infrastructures, promoted modernized education, and introduced Western culture to several nations they controlled, they treated the people of the land callously. In An Anthology of West African Verse by David Diop, an African boy describes what the Europeans had done to his family. He said, the “White Man killed [his] father…,seduced [his] mother…,burnt [his] brother…, [and] turned to [him]” demanding for a “chair, a napkin, and a drink.” The poem shows how indifferent the Europeans were to the Africans. They had become less and less ethical, while the Africans suffered in agony. Diop was a culturally educated African man and considering he was published in an anthology of West Africa, he spoke to other educated people through his writing