Literature Review: European Colonialism

Literature Review: European Colonialism

The world history has a lot to thank European colonialism for. European colonialism has been in the topics of discussion for the adverse impacts that it had on individual countries. European nations brought their culture to every country they colonized. Apart from washing away the indigenous culture, other adverse effects were witnessed, such as the destruction of the environment, especially through deforestation. Colonial powers also came with dictatorship, racism, and violence. However, it is essential to acknowledge the many positive historical impacts that European colonialism had on America. History scholars have recognized the contribution of colonization towards world history. European colonization was expansionistic since it opened not only America but also other nations to the world trade and hence helped in the world’s revolution and civilization. This paper is a literature review focusing on the expansionistic nature of European colonialism through the evaluation of both its negative and positive legacies.

Many historians acknowledge the European colonialism for the bad legacies it left behind. According to Knapp (2007), although South America was not well developed before the coming of the first Columbus voyage in 1498, it was stable with subsistence agriculture and naturally rich environments. As a civilized nation, Britain wanted to excavate the minerals under American soil. Forest was destroyed for mining. For instance, silver and gold in Andes and Brazil, respectively. The colonists further disrupted the subsistence farming and introduced cash crops, which were not appreciated by the locals because they were useful to the colonists. Also, People were displaced, and their cultural patterns disrupted. In addition to these, Stuchtey (2017) comments on the political and social impacts of the European colonialism. The regime came with the worst forms of governance, which Stuchtey refers to as Caesarism. An example of this leadership is the leadership of Belgian King, Leopold Ⅱ and the Genocide between Germany and Herero in southwest Africa between 1903 and 1907. In addition, European colonialism introduces racism and violence since their operations were based on racial and gender violence. Even though these vices were harmful, the humane expectations of the colonized people. They have lived to be praised for their meaning in the world’s history. The colonized nations were enlightened and finally fought for their independence, and that is why they should respect the legacy.

Recent scholars have looked closer to establish numerous positive parts of the colonialist legacy. Both Knapp (2007) and Stuchtey (2017) helps us understand the bigger picture in the process of colonization. For instance, Although European colonizers cleared forests as they expanded mining fields, the environmental ethics that the world enjoys today were developed during the colonial period (Knapp, 2007). As a result of the minerals and the cash crops planted on American soil, trade intensified, and America was finally open to the global trade system. To reaffirm this, Stuchtey points out that colonialism opened their colonies to modern statehood, where nations are recognized as independent. Modern economies value business along the coast. It was the British colonists who introduced coats focused development, although Americans considered it as displacement (Knapp, 2007).  According to Stuchtey (2017), colonialism opened the world to rationalism and liberalism, which are integral to the independence enjoyed in the world today.  The European colonialism, therefore, left a legacy that the world could not have had in its history.

In conclusion, European colonization was expansionistic since it opened not only America but also other nations to the world trade and hence helped in the world’s revolution and civilization. It is fascinating how both the negative and the positive impacts of the European colonialism led to a unitary goal of civilization. Many researchers have considered the negative side leaving minimal information about the positive side at our disposal. Additionally, very few scholars have been able to understand the working of the entire process towards enlightenment and civilization. This literature opens up the gap for an analysis that combines the two sides of the legacies and establishes the collective role they played in linking up the nations of the world.

References

Knapp, G. (2007). The legacy of European colonialism. The physical geography of South America, 7, 279. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280739409_The_Legacy_of_European_Colonialism

Stuchtey, B. (2017). Colonialism and imperialism, 1450–1950. Notes, 2, 6. https://d-nb.info/1031400591/34