Online Module 2: Colonial Encounters in Asia, Africa, and Oceania

1. In what ways did the Industrial Revolution shape the character of 19thcentury European imperialism?


The Industrial Revolution shaped European imperialism in several ways. One of those ways was by the enormous productivity of industrial technology and Europe’s growing affluence, which created the need for extensive raw materials and agricultural products. Since Central America, South Africa, southern Russia, etc. were already selling products Europe decided to sell its own products as well, but they produced more manufactured goods than its own people could afford to buy. Europeans adopted many ideas and techniques in advanced societies. There were technological innovations like the steam-driven ship, the underwater telegraph, quinine, the breech-loading rifles, and machine guns. All these produced technological innovations helped shape European imperialism because it was a quicker way of achieving different goals. For example, quinine prevents malaria and the underwater telegraph helped with instant communication. Many wealthy Europeans also benefited from foreign markets that helped keep Europe’s factories and workers employed. In conclusion, the industrial revolution gave Europe the ability to take over many parts of the world very quickly and they even became very rich. 

8. What was distinctive about European colonial empires of the 19th century? One distinctive thing about the European colonial empire during the 19th century was the importance of race in distinguishing rulers and ruled. Education was very limited and was mainly focused on practical subjects instead of scientific and literary studies. Besides education, colonial states were able to penetrate the societies they governed. European colonizers had a ritual for counting and classifying their subject people. This was a very big habit for Europeans. Counting and classifying included race and gender. Male European colonizers took pride in active masculinity as well. They also contradicted their own core values and their practices at home to an unusual degree.

11. How did cash-crop agriculture transform the lives of colonized peoples?

1. In some places, the colonized rule created conditions that facilitated and increased cash-crop for local farmers. In Burma, people encouraged rice production among small farmers. Profitable cash-crop farming also developed in the Gold Coast. They would plant huge cacao trees that were used to make chocolate. For small local farmers, this was a great thing because they were able to finally own their own land, build houses, and buy imported goods. For a long time, this improved the way that people were living. There was even an increase in rice production that fed people in other parts like Asia. This success brought in a lot of prosperity for local farmers in the 20th century, but it also brought a lot of problems. For example, there were lots of environmental consequences. Mangrove forests were destroyed along with swamplands. This kind of agriculture generated lots of methane gas, which was a major contributor to global warming. Besides environmental problems, there were a lot of exploited workers and some men married women for their labor power but refused to support them adequately. This situation brought a lot of conflict between sexes, class, and culture.