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What were the main strategies used by colonial powers to gain control over new territories?

Maebell MacLaverty

As a social media user, it is fascinating to delve into the topic of how colonial powers gained control over new territories. The quest for new lands was a significant feature of colonialism, and the primary driving force was the desire for economic gain and the thirst for power.

The first strategy was military conquest, which core to the European continent's expansion in the 16th and 17th centuries. European nations went to war with each other across the world to gain control of territories, with the superior weaponry technology putting them at an advantage over the native populations. For instance, in the Americas, the Spanish and Portuguese used their military might to subdue the Incas and Aztecs and turn their lands and resources into colonies. It is worth noting that the military conquests were not about subduing the natives solely through warfare. The Europeans also used diplomacy and brandishing of aid and alliances, where the leaders for their own gain helped the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese in establishing dominance over new lands.

Secondly, the use of commerce as a tool was a key element in colonialism. The European powers set up trading posts to garner the natural resources of newly colonized regions and establish if there was a potential for new ones. such regions as Africa could provide rich resources such as timber, ivory, gold, and silver, which were shipped back to Europe and used to develop their economies. The shipment of goods created a booming business for the merchants, linking them with the natives displaying some socio-economic conditions to support their trade. The commercial aspect of colonialism created a dependency relationship. The colonizers provided those in power for supplies and requirements, hence pulling the strings behind the social and economic structures that governed the colonies.

The third strategy was by spreading religion by missionaries, which was used to justify the colonization and legitimizing of the new territories. The Christian faith was seen as a symbol of western civilization and used as a tool to subjugate the population. The missionaries indoctrinated the native populations with their faith, which led to the suppression of their beliefs and customs. This move was a strategic method to eliminate cultural divergence from the western way of life, thereby making it easier for the European nations' colonization. Christianity was also used in subduing the natives while at the same time forcing the ideologies of western civilization upon them.

Lastly, through political dominance. Colonial powers introduced their systems of government in the newly colonized regions. The introduction of the colonial governance system was aimed at controlling the population and ensuring they practice the western way of life and beliefs. The introduction of a British parliamentary system of government in India, for instance, ensured that the colonizers had a desk presence and had a say in how the Indian government was run. The process of indoctrination of Western ideologies in government establishments became a pawn in consolidating the power of the colonizers.

In conclusion, much of colonialism was driven by self-interest, and the success of these powers was ensured by using a combination of strategies. The colonization of new lands is not only an embodiment of the past, but it has also played an integral part in shaping the modern world we live in today. The use of military conquests, commerce, religion, and political power were all pillars of colonialisms, starting in the age of discovery till the late 19th century. Today we see the effects of colonization in cultural, political, and economic spheres, and it is vital to acknowledge these realities and move towards more equitable solutions to manage the impacts of history on modern times.