History (theories of colonisation)

Colonialism is the?

Policy of extending a nation’s sovereignity over territory beyond its borders by occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically.

So why do we colonise

Gold, God and Glory

Gold

exploiting

• Gold, precious stones and etc

• cash crops (less available crops)

• minerals

• Labour (slaves and etc)

• Just like the portugese colonization of brazil, where brazil wood was extracted (16th century),

  sugar was produced (16-18th century)

  gold and diamond mining (18th century)

God

• God-conversion of the indigenous population to the faith(s) of the colonialists, in this case (cuz europe), Christianity

• Spanish conquest of Brazil (catholic)

• Just like the portugese conquest of Brazl (catholic)

• portugese, Dutch and French in south Africa (CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT)

Glory

• Glory - for the fame of being known as a country - there is the impression that the larger’s one territory(s) is, the more influential your country is seen to be

• Great Britain once colonized 25% of the world.

• Several countries have claimed parts of Antarctica, including:

  • United Kingdom (British Antarctic Territory)

  • Australia (Australian Antarctic Territory)

  • Chile (Chilean Antarctic Territory)

  • Norway (Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land)

  • France (Adélie Land)

  • Argentina (Argentine Antarctica)

  • New Zealand (Ross Dependency)

Why did we colonise (AIDED THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE COLONIALISTS)

• Exploitation of bringing precious metals and stones, minerals and even labour back to its capital for

• FINANCING OF WARS

• MORE EXPLORATION OF ITS TERRITORIES

• INCREASING THE COUNTRY’S TREASURY

• Establishment of overseas markets (trading goods)/(trading posts)

• Trade/sale of excess manufactured goods

• E.g Singapore (a trading port)

• IMPERIALISM

• A policy of exerting effective and continuing control of authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires.

• SOCIAL DARWINISM

• Refers to historical changes in thought and belief, to changes in social and institutional organisation, that unfolded in Europe between roughly 1550-1700

  It used a distorted view of Charles' Darwin’s theory of evolution with the core principal of “survival of the fittest”

  This principal dictated that since Europeans were superior to all other races, they were ranked at the top of the human hierarchy.

Why did the British want to colonise southeast asia?

To civilize and educate non-European countries, as they were meant to bring ‘light’ to dark places like asia and africa, giving them peace and security

What did Europeans focus on?

building their nations, acquiring colonies for resources, expansion and national pride

European expansion was a step towards civilisation. In what way was it? (thru darwin’s theories of evolution)

Darwin’s theory was misused to justify Europe being seen as leading the ‘wild’ Asia and Africa.

What did colonists do to the natives?

They forced natives to shift from farming for survival to growing cash crops like tobacco and coffee, which had high social costs.

What was seen to be the main goal of holding colonies?

To prevent rivals from gaining resources