African Colonies Advantages And Disadvantages

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The advent of the Industrial Revolution in Europe spurred a positive change in the economy and society of every country that was fortunate enough to reap the benefits of mass production powered by factory equipment, though the effects of this widespread shift touched not only Europe, but other countries and colonies around the world as well. Obtaining land outside of Europe became a central focus for European countries, and the physical barriers that had previously inhibited the expansion of a country’s territories were broken by technologies such as the steam engine, which enabled powerful long-distance travel. European countries availed themselves of this opportunity to broaden their horizons and acquire more land, which they carried out prominently in Africa. …show more content…

In doing so, Europeans forcefully introduced laws, infrastructure, and machinery to African colonies, acts that constituted the European effort to imperialize Africa, an attempt intended to change the way of life for both the controller and controlled. Although the perceived benefits and drawbacks of the conquering of African colonies can be seen through statistical date, the incentives which fueled the era to begin with must be scrutinized at a more detailed level to determine their true form. The European contest to occupy African colonies was driven by selfish desires to strengthen economies and advance public fronts, but throughout the process remained the underlying burden of civilizing African people that Europeans believed they were justified and obliged to take upon themselves, all the while holding a disparaging viewpoint of the people they

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