|
An all to important part of European imperialism was racism. We are not entirely sure why that was. Racism does not always flow from imperialism. There were many empires in history that did not develop such fervent racist attitides as the European colonialists. This appears to be the case with the Persians, Romans, Ottomans and other great empires. We note many many web pundits that insist that colonialism by its very nature is racist. This has, however, not been the historical experience. A reflection of this was slavery. This was an institution that until modern times was common and often an important part of the imperial economies. Slavery in these empires, unlike the slavery created by the Europeans was not race based. European colonialism, however, was indeed racist. And we do not fully understand why racism became so intense in the Western world. There seem to have been several different factors that fueld European racism. Nationalism emerged as a powerful force in the 19th century and some rabid nationalists connected race with the nation. This was especually true in Germany, ironically the European power with the least experience with other races because of its small colonial empire. Racist attitudes varied from country to country. Here historical experiences affected popular attitudes toward race. And within countries there were a range of indivudal attitudes. Non-European people were a novelty in Europe until the 20th century.
An all to important part of European imperialism was racism. We are not entirely sure why that was. Racism does not always flow from imperialism. There were many empires in history that did not develop such fervent racist attitides as the European colonialists. This appears to be the case with the Persians, Romans, Ottomans and other great empires. We note many many web pundits that insist that colonialism by its very nature is racist. This has, however, not been the historical experience. A reflection of this was slavery. This was an institution that until modern times was common and often an important part of the imperial economies.
Slavery in the great empires of history, unlike the slavery created by the Europeans was not race based. There may have been times when slavery took on an ethnuc color depending on who the great empired warred wuth. Thus after the Roman suppression of the Jews, large numbers of Jews were inslaved (1st century AD). Thus when the Romans invaded Britain (1st century AD), there were large numbers of fair-haired slaves entering the slave markets, but there were never laws attributing slave status to a particular religion or ethnic group. And this was the general pattern in the great empirs of history. European colonialism, however, was indeed racist.
Britain with its Royal Navy led the fight against the slave trade. The battle against the slave trade as the campaign against slavery in America became a moral crusade. The campaihn focused on the evils of slavery. A small proportion of vent abolitionists believe in human equality. Racism was not just a stronly held belief among slavers, but abolitionist as well. Along with ending the slave trade there was no widespread belief that blacks were equal to whites or that blacks should be granted citzenship.
We do not fully understand why racism became so intense in the Western world. There seem to have been several different factors that fueld European racism. 1) The inballance in technology seemed to suggest that white Europeans were a more avanced people. 2) That technological inballance led to an inballance in military power. Thus the Europeans had the ability to impose their will on others peoples. 3) The inballance in technology as well as the ability to exploit other peoples created an inballance in living standards which strengthen the European view that they were superior. 4) Christian religious teaching fueld and justicied colonialism as bringing civilization to the heathen. (Here Christianity also taught against the worst abuses and was a major factor in the fight against slavery.) 5) Science by the 19th century became seen as road to the future and some authors connected evolution with racism--Social Darwinism. 6) Nationalism emerged as a powerful force in the 19th century and some rabid nationalists connected race with the nation. This was especually true in Germany, ironically the European power with the least experience with other races because of its small colonial empire. Racist attitudes varied from country to country. Here historical experiences affected popular attitudes toward race. And within countries there were a range of indivudal attitudes.
Non-European people were a novelty in Europe until the 20th century. Population movement was possible from the earliest point in human esixtence. The spread of early man out of Africa is evidence of this. Man at this point was a hunter-gather. One the agricultural neolithic revolution took place, man became much more sedentary. As late as the 19th century, most people spent their lives within a relatively small sistance of where they were norn. As a result, we see destinct European populations based on ethnicity. While there were many varied ethnic groups in Europe, Asians, Africans, and Native Americans were very rarely seen. The Portugese had rhe largest African populations, but more as mulattos because of the Moorish era and Portugal's long involvement with Africa. As the major maritime powers began to build empires in the 19th century, we begin to see small numbers of other racial groups in Europe. This was most common in the major seaports. We note some African boys taken back to Europe to serve as servants in wealthy families. We do not know how common this was or in what countries it was most common, presumably countries sith the largest empires. Based on photographs ans paintings, it was more common for boys than girls. Eventually we see colonial peoples traveling to the mother country for both educations and to seek better paying jobs. These etnic and religious groups involved are now an important part of the European fabric. The people involved vary from country to country.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main European colonialism page]
[Return to the Main race page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
