Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Western Colonisation
The rationales for colonization were mainly economic. The Industrial Revolution in the Europe had given rise to the need for raw materials. Given its richness in natural resources, Southeast Asia was a good target of colonization. The colonies also provided ready markets for manufactured goods of the colonizing powers. The desire to protect and secure the strategic trade route between India and China through the Straits of Malacca was another reason.
Western colonization dates back all the way as early as 16th century. In ancient times, maritime nations such as the city-states of Greece and Phoenicia often established colonies. These appear to have been more benign, emphasizing the farming of uninhabited land. In classical times, land suitable for farming was often claimed by migratory "barbarian tribes" who lived by hunting and gathering. To ancient civilized people, the land simply appeared vacant. However this does not mean that conflict did not exist between the colonizers and native peoples.
Another period of colonization in Ancient times was from the Romans. The Roman Empire conquered a large part of Western Europe, North Africa and West Asia. In North Africa and west Asia they were often conquering civilized peoples, but as they moved north into Europe they mostly encountered rural tribes with very little in the way of cities. In these areas, waves of Roman colonization often followed the conquest of the area.
Many of the current cities around Europe began as Roman colonies, such as the German city Köln (better known in its French form Cologne), which was originally called Colonia Claudia by the Romans; and the British capital city of London which the Romans started as Londinium.
When the Western powers sailed down to South East Asia, small south-east Asia was then split up by many different European countries, mainly the Great Britain, France and Holland. Portugal also has their Macaw from the China. Although these world powers established and organized and a well developed economic structure for then and future, the civilians still dreamt to have their people to rule the place, not the outsiders.
During WW2, when Japanese troops march down South-East Asia and smashing every single civilization accept the Thais. We finally realized how fragile and vulnerable these world powers from attacks. We also realized that colonizing powers will not truly protect their colonies during hard times of battle. Our ancestors knew if they want to survive on their own, they had to take control because only they will have the will and determination to protect their homeland.
After the war, they protested for changes and self-internal governance. That is when, slowly, they free the nations into their own local's hand.
Now, Singapore is prosperous with sky scrappers everywhere. We stood on our own and proved to the world that without the British, the lion can still soar in the stage of world.
Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization#Historical_Colonisations
The Land and its history
A common past – colonization and Its Legacy
Posted at: 11:51 PM