One of the distinctions of 19th century European colonial empires was the evident race difference between the rulers and the ruled. The places where European populations settled in large numbers were where racial separation was more pronounced. There were certain places such as South Africa where race had to be established as a legal feature of their society. This is what led to what is now known as the apartheid. Another distinction of European colonial empires was in the way they forced their ways of life onto the societies they ruled. New concepts such as centralized tax-collecting bureaucracies, imposed changes in landholding patterns, the integration of colonial economies into a global network of exchange, and more altered the daily lives of many. European colonial empires classified the people they ruled as well. One example of this is the caste system that had been established in India at the time. Gender is yet another distinction, since the European rulers, usually male, prided themselves in their “active masculinity.” Not only that, but they regarded the “conquered race” as soft. One last distinction was the fact that the policies they established greatly contradicted their own values and practices at home.
11. How did cash crop agriculture transform the lives of colonized peoples?
To begin with, many local small farmers were able to own their own land, build
substantial houses, and buy imported goods. Crop agriculture led to a sharp
improvement of standard living during the late nineteenth century.
The exports of rice greatly increased at the time, since the production of rice was
encouraged. This motivated people to migrate to cities where they could benefit
from the cash crop agriculture. Cash crop agriculture brought environmental
problems into the lives of colonial people as well. In the Mekong River delta of
French-ruled Vietnam, mangrove forests and swamplands were destroyed.
This ended their supply of fish and shellfish that supplemented local diets.
The new dikes and irrigation channels that were made generated large amounts of
methane gas, which is a major contributor to global warming. Although cash crop
agriculture was beneficial, it caused many problems as well. Tension between
sexes began to increase and the influx of migrants led to ethnic and class tensions.
substantial houses, and buy imported goods. Crop agriculture led to a sharp
improvement of standard living during the late nineteenth century.
The exports of rice greatly increased at the time, since the production of rice was
encouraged. This motivated people to migrate to cities where they could benefit
from the cash crop agriculture. Cash crop agriculture brought environmental
problems into the lives of colonial people as well. In the Mekong River delta of
French-ruled Vietnam, mangrove forests and swamplands were destroyed.
This ended their supply of fish and shellfish that supplemented local diets.
The new dikes and irrigation channels that were made generated large amounts of
methane gas, which is a major contributor to global warming. Although cash crop
agriculture was beneficial, it caused many problems as well. Tension between
sexes began to increase and the influx of migrants led to ethnic and class tensions.
13. How were the lives of African women in particular altered by colonial economies?
During precolonial times in Africa, women were responsible for planting, weeding, harvesting,
food preparation, and child care. Women were also involved in local trading communities, they
were subordinate to men but still had a small measure of economic autonomy. The results of a
study that had been conducted in Cameroon state that women’s working hours increased from
46 hours per week to more than 70 by 1934. Women began taking over traditionally male tasks
like breaking the ground for planting, milking the cows, and supervising the herds, in addition to
their regular responsibilities. By the 1930’s women and men seemed to live different lives, since
women focused more on the village life and subsistence agriculture and men focused on the cities
and working wages. These major changes allowed women to form a stronger bond and unite to support
one another. In some places like Nigeria, Nupe women contributed more family income than their husbands
and found themselves frequently having to lend them money. Women started to realize that they no longer
need a man to depend on and started to veer away from the traditional mindsets they had. The control of
women’s sexuality and mobility was one of the main interests European and African men shared.
food preparation, and child care. Women were also involved in local trading communities, they
were subordinate to men but still had a small measure of economic autonomy. The results of a
study that had been conducted in Cameroon state that women’s working hours increased from
46 hours per week to more than 70 by 1934. Women began taking over traditionally male tasks
like breaking the ground for planting, milking the cows, and supervising the herds, in addition to
their regular responsibilities. By the 1930’s women and men seemed to live different lives, since
women focused more on the village life and subsistence agriculture and men focused on the cities
and working wages. These major changes allowed women to form a stronger bond and unite to support
one another. In some places like Nigeria, Nupe women contributed more family income than their husbands
and found themselves frequently having to lend them money. Women started to realize that they no longer
need a man to depend on and started to veer away from the traditional mindsets they had. The control of
women’s sexuality and mobility was one of the main interests European and African men shared.
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