day 3 summary

Conventional Approach:

  • Linear Progression/Upwards progression

  • Birth of literacy

  • Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, Voyages of Discovery

  • Gradual secularism

  • Depiction of European domination — Great Divide: Rise of Europe in old civilizations of Asia

  • Fundamental Core of The Great Divide: Birth of Capitalism, Individualism, and Profit Motive

    • The Great Divide occurred because Asia was tied to religion and couldn’t adopt a profit motive

Modern Era: Between the French Revolution to the end of WW2

  • British wins in French Revolution and Napoleonic Wards, becoming the 1st global superpower

  • Start of Industrial Revolution

19th Century

  • US, Germany, and France are largest challengers of the British’s superpower

  • Start of Modern Capitalism (free trade), Individualism, and Profit Motive in the West

  • Tech innovation

Eurocentric Conception of the non-European World:

  1. Ancient cities are ‘civilized’ but economically stagnant and politically retrogressive

  2. Africa and most islands are illiterate, don’t have organized religions, lack political markers. Are viewed as ‘uncivilized’ and primitive

Continental Area

Old Civilization

E Asia

China

S Asia

India

Middle East

Iran & Ethiopia

Africa & Islands

Scattered populations

Pastoralism: Raise livestock nomadically because dependent on areas of rainfall which varies season to season.

  • Seen as retrogressive by Europeans because they’re not settled!! frontiers and protecting national entity is ++important

    • Berlin Conference of 1884: Divided IOW with frontiers by drawing imaginary lines

Transhumane: Pastoralists with regular back/forth migrations
Agropastrolism: Raising both livestock and crops
Livestock: Domesticated animals raised to produce 1) draft labour and/or 2) commodities (meat, eggs, milk, fur, wool, leather)

Pastoralists vs. Sedentary Agricultural Communities:

  1. Access to water

  2. Land rights

  3. Livestock damaging crops

Hunter Gatherers: Hunt wild animals, use traps (pitfalls, nets), fish (spearing, tickling, baskets), and gather (shellfish, eggs, locusts, honey)

  • Seen as most primitive by Europeans

  • Practiced infanticide — constantly on the move, children were sometimes burdens and elders committed suicide

  • Gave rise to European’s ‘violent’ perspective on Africa

    • Cannibalism

    • After British Parliament bans slave trade in 1807, Europeans appalled at the continuation of slavery in IOW

La Mission Civilisatrice: Mission to ‘white-wash’/Westernize indigenous populations.

  • Europeans feel justified for the Great Divide because of ‘abolishing’ the slave trade — judge the non-European world for maintaining it (white saviour complex)

DIY Guide to Colonialism!! ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS NO BORAX NO GLUE

  1. Christianity

  2. Education

  3. More civilized values (eg. imposing colonial language on colonized countries)

  4. Modern health system

4 Major Points of European Impact:

  1. Great Divide/Divergence

  2. Europe switches from traditional → individualist, profit-motive economic development

  3. By C19, W. Europe and N. America dominate world economically and politically

  4. Africa viewed as barbaric — seen as no way to develop without European intervention

Step-by-Step Guide to a Western-style Government

  1. Indirect Rule: Influence local elite (much cheaper)

    1. Eg. British formed relationships with Indian emperors

  2. or Direct Rule: Collaborate with indigenous elite

  3. Enforce colonial political frontiers

  4. Promote development via taxation and white settlements

    1. Force to work for salary → establish stable workforce