It was interesting to read the different ways the colonial takeover of Asia and Africa occurred. Europeans preferred informal social control because it was cheaper and less likely to provoke a war. Although, when needed the Europeans did take the risk of conquest and outright the colonial rule. The motives for Europeans were shaped by the military and economic power that came with the Industrial Revolution.
India and Indonesia grew out of earlier interaction with European trading firms. The Mughal Empire lacked united to begin with leading the Europeans to a successful colonization.
Furthermore, it was also interesting to read the how people benefited from the colonial regime. For example, many men found employment, their status in society changed, and they had security in European-led armed forces. European education was promoted. A few were able to return back home as doctors, lawyers, doctors, engineers, or journalists. Additionally, there was also cons that came along with the colonial regime. The Muslims and Hindus did not want to convert to Christianity. Also, local rulers lost power, landlords were deprived of their estates or their rents, and peasants overtaxed and exploited by urban moneylenders.
Moreover, it was fascinating to read how the power of the colonial states transformed the economic lives of colonial subjects by not paying people for labor on public projects, such as building railroads, constructing government buildings, and transporting goods.
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