The Disruption of Indigenous Economies
Colonialism often destroyed or marginalized local economies.
- Subsistence agriculture gave way to cash crop monocultures.
- Traditional crafts and industries declined due to imported European goods.
- Economic dependency on colonial powers was institutionalized.
Land Dispossession
- Large tracts of land were confiscated for plantations, mines, and settler farms.
- Indigenous peoples were often displaced and deprived of their livelihoods.
- Land tenure systems were restructured to favor colonizers and collaborators.
Social Hierarchies and Racial Ideologies
- Colonial rule introduced racialized social orders privileging Europeans.
- Laws and customs enforced segregation and discrimination.
- Social divisions weakened indigenous cohesion, facilitating control.
Resistance and Rebellion Against Exploitation
Early Indigenous Resistance
Indigenous peoples did not accept exploitation passively.
- Revolts, guerrilla warfare, and cultural resilience persisted throughout colonial periods.
- Notable examples include the Pueblo Revolt (1680), Maroon communities in the Caribbean, and Zulu resistance in South Africa.
Slave Rebellions and Maroon Societies
- Enslaved Africans resisted through revolts such as the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804).
- Maroon communities established autonomous settlements from which they raided colonial plantations.
Nationalist Movements
- By the late 19th and 20th centuries, anti-colonial nationalism grew.
- Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah, and Ho Chi Minh challenged colonial exploitation politically.
shutdown123