Do you agree or disagree with the statement below. Give examples. "On balance, European empire-building in Africa did more harm than good."

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Answers

i think that empire building in africa did both good and bad. They brought technology to the country. If it wasn't for the imperial countries the country would be worse off than it is now. Technology improved people's lives. Medicine may have also helped saved people's lives. Today countries around the world would love to be one of the world would love to be an economic power But also the imperial countries did a lot of harm to the native people's of the country. They destroyed most of their culture. There was racial discrimination. There was harsh treatment toward the people. They were sometimes beaten for no reason. They were forced to slaves and has to serve their "superior". The imperial people were cruel to the natives. They aways the natives own land. But there are countries like Great Britain who allowed things like indirect rule. But later there was still segration in South Africa and the natives were treated like criminals.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

On balance, I believe that European empire-building did more harm than it did good. Even with all the technological benefits that occurred through modernization, they cannot compare with the harm that was caused. If the true intentions of the European were to benefit the Africans then they wouldn't have needed to build empires to help the Africans to modernize. The truth is that the Eurpoeans imperialized the Africans because of their greed. In the end greed never wins, because it is one of the deadly seven sins. The Europeans can be blamed for the lives lost. The imperialism in Africa brought on a series of war. The Africans had their life sacrificed against their will so that they could bring a series of war and more ruin to their people? How can you say that a person's life was worth that much? How can you that a person's life could be compared to something so barbaric? The Eurpeans didn't even need that much land, wasn't it enough that they controlled most of the territroy in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America through imperialism and spheres of influence? The Europeans broke the culture of the Africans, the culture that will be lost to the people forever. Why do the Europeans have to force every person in every nation to be like them or succumb to them? Thanks to them, we lost valuable information on the cultures that could've developed. In the end, more harm was caused, it isn't justifiable what the Europeans did. Look at the Japanese, they accepted modernization but rejected the European culture, and today they're one of the most advanced countries in the world. Imagine what the Africans could've done if they weren't forced to have direct/indirect rule from the Europeans.

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2001

I thought European empire-building in africa did more good than harm. All of the countries that took over these countries didn't harm the people unless the natives did something terrible. The empire building in Africa made the countries more modern and connection to the outside world.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001

I don't think I can honestly say that this statement is agreeable, or disagreeable. My feelings are mixed about the topic. I still lean towards agreeing.

Just to think how different today’s society would’ve of been if African Imperialism hadn’t occurred isn’t so far-fetched. Many more humane things could’ve occurred in Africa, and we would of gotten just as far. The achievements are there. Just how they were reached is beyond belief. The cruel treating of these native Africans was pointless. I believe that money was a bigger issue. Honor is in the dollar to most people. They don’t look beyond it. The surrounding people don’t look beyond it. So in a way its covers up, and most people take the role as innocent bystanders. “It’s happening over there, it shouldn’t bother us.”

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2001