Question 1:
The hegemonic power of European empires shaped all aspects of daily life for people both far from and in the metropole. While colonial empires were often thought of as affecting primarily the colonized, the metropole was altered drastically in conscious and unconscious ways. Colonial empires experienced a two-way transfer of goods, people, and information that dramatically altered Europe in ways which have profound impacts to today.
Britain served for decades as the center of the global imperial economy; that includes the financial, trade, and commodity markets. World War II brought with it a sea change in global politics in decoupling the colonial world from its former colonial metropole. However, as Louis and Robinson argue …show more content…
As technology, most specifically transportation technology, advanced, cheap food stuff from the colonies flooded European markets, undercutting European farmers. As farming was becoming less sustainable in Europe, rural peasants flocked toward rapidly growing cities clamoring for work. Industrialists capitalized on this cheap and readily available source of labor. The economic boom that was experienced in the metropole is one which is almost unrivaled in all history. While the boom did not benefit all classes, it, on the whole, certainly improved life in Europe. The vast amount of wealth it created pushed Europe culturally to new levels. Another effect of colonialism on Europe was the cultural advancement imperialism allowed. With the extreme levels of wealth, individuals were afforded the opportunity to specialize and pursue scientific and cultural pursuits in mass. Scientific discoveries and the growth of the educational system was in large part the direct result of the economic boom set in motion by colonial activity. These opportunities would not have been possible without the colonial structure being in …show more content…
Lehning argues that the period of decolonization was not a shift away from a colonial relationship, but rather a conscious shift driven by the realization nationalist movements within the colonies could not be subdued. The British made the best of a bad situation and began to reduce the colonial population substantially in the years following World War II. The former colonial relationship, which was built on domination, was shifted to one framed as a relationship of equals. This new relationship, however, sought to increase economic contribution of the former colony while accommodating demands of indigenous populations for greater autonomy. This was accomplished by placing the new government in the hands of individuals who were educated in colonial schools and European universities. This practice gave into demands of the end of the colonial relationship while ensuring the actions of the newly formed independent nation-states still benefited the former colonizing
The hegemonic power of European empires shaped all aspects of daily life for people both far from and in the metropole. While colonial empires were often thought of as affecting primarily the colonized, the metropole was altered drastically in conscious and unconscious ways. Colonial empires experienced a two-way transfer of goods, people, and information that dramatically altered Europe in ways which have profound impacts to today.
Britain served for decades as the center of the global imperial economy; that includes the financial, trade, and commodity markets. World War II brought with it a sea change in global politics in decoupling the colonial world from its former colonial metropole. However, as Louis and Robinson argue …show more content…
As technology, most specifically transportation technology, advanced, cheap food stuff from the colonies flooded European markets, undercutting European farmers. As farming was becoming less sustainable in Europe, rural peasants flocked toward rapidly growing cities clamoring for work. Industrialists capitalized on this cheap and readily available source of labor. The economic boom that was experienced in the metropole is one which is almost unrivaled in all history. While the boom did not benefit all classes, it, on the whole, certainly improved life in Europe. The vast amount of wealth it created pushed Europe culturally to new levels. Another effect of colonialism on Europe was the cultural advancement imperialism allowed. With the extreme levels of wealth, individuals were afforded the opportunity to specialize and pursue scientific and cultural pursuits in mass. Scientific discoveries and the growth of the educational system was in large part the direct result of the economic boom set in motion by colonial activity. These opportunities would not have been possible without the colonial structure being in …show more content…
Lehning argues that the period of decolonization was not a shift away from a colonial relationship, but rather a conscious shift driven by the realization nationalist movements within the colonies could not be subdued. The British made the best of a bad situation and began to reduce the colonial population substantially in the years following World War II. The former colonial relationship, which was built on domination, was shifted to one framed as a relationship of equals. This new relationship, however, sought to increase economic contribution of the former colony while accommodating demands of indigenous populations for greater autonomy. This was accomplished by placing the new government in the hands of individuals who were educated in colonial schools and European universities. This practice gave into demands of the end of the colonial relationship while ensuring the actions of the newly formed independent nation-states still benefited the former colonizing