Chapter 18 - Colonial Encounters in Asia and Africa

In today's reading it is about The Colonial Encounters in Asia and Africa that began in the 1750-1950. The first wave was aimed at American however, the second wave aimed at Asia and Africa. One of the most major points that occurred during The Colonial Encounters is Industry and Empire. During the Industry and Empire, new economic needs found solution abroad. This created the need for extensive raw materials and agricultural products such as bananas from Central America, rubber from Brazil, meat from Argentina, cocoa and palm oil from West Africa, and gold and diamonds from South Africa. By the 1840, Britain was exporting about 60% of its cotton-cloth production, sending millions of yards to Europe. Between 1910 and 1914, Britain was sending about half of its savings overseas as foreign investment. Another main point to The Colonial Encounters in Asia and Africa is the Race and Culture. Europeans had defined others largely in religious terms, now they adopted the idea and techniques of more "advanced" societies. This means it is precedented by wealth, and used both to produce unsurpassed military power. It is not surprising that their opinions of other cultures dropped sharply. European eyes to the status of tribes led by chiefs as a means of emphasizing their "primitive" qualities. Still Europeans used the device of science to support their racial preferences and prejudices. Going onto the second wave of European conquests, between 1750 and 1914 was a second and quite distinct round of conquests: Asia and Africa. Construction of these new empires in the Afro-Asian world, involved military force. India and Indonesia, grew out of earlier interactions with European trading firms. British East India Company took advantage of the fragmentation of Mughal Empire and facilitated penetration for them. Also, Dutch acquisition of Indonesia was also as traders and alliances. Slowly without a plan, soon they had conquered the islands. Under the European Rule Australia and New Zealand, both taken over by the British during the nineteenth century, were more similar to the earlier colonization of North America. Also, diseases that reduced by 75%. United States practiced a policy of removing exterminating Indian people.