Throughout the world, stories of conquest and independence have paralleled each other. European conquerors craved power, whether it was economic, religious, political, or geographical. As a result, they subjugated the natives of the conquered countries to work for the Europeans’ profit. Angered natives then revolted and fought for their independence. In various stories of conquest and subsequent freedom, various countries have mirrored desire for power, strict methods of control, and struggles for independence.
Many European nations shared a desire for trade power, religious power, political power, and land, which led to rapid colonization. In both Zimbabwe and India, Britain conquered the natives initially in order to establish a trade connection; therefore, trade companies such as the British South Africa Company and the British East India Company controlled the natives at first through negotiating alliances with local leaders. However, when the trade companies could not keep control of the rebellious natives, the British crown stepped in and set up a stricter government. Similarly, at the beginning of Spanish rule in the Philippines, feudal-style tax farmers called encomenderos were supposed to collect profits from native farmers and the spice trade and educate the locals in Christianity. When the encomenderos neglected their religious responsibilities and withheld profits from the Spanish crown, the king took control and appointed his own governors. Additionally, in Brazil and Mexico, various Spanish conquistadores, such as Hernan Cortez, took on the white man’s burden and attempted to spread Christianity. In the Scramble for Africa, various European nations fought for a hold on the resources and political power to be gained from colonizing Africa. While the British held control of Zimbabwe, Belgium subjugated Africans in the Congo for profit from rubber latex, one of many cash crops.
The nature of foreign rule forced European nations to use extreme tactics in order to keep control of and gain profit from their distant colonies. In the Congo, King Leopold II resorted to severe military tactics to force the Africans there to harvest rubber latex like slaves. Additionally, in Vietnam, the French enforced a centralized government with heavy taxes and forced labor. Another instance of this slave labor occurred in Haiti, where the French recruited not only Haitians, but also Africans, to work on sugar plantations. Many of these slaves died from injuries and malnutrition, but the rapid production of sugar eventually stripped Haiti of its fertile land and natural resources. Spain also enforced a strict labor system in gold and silver mines in the Dominican Republic. Many workers died from European diseases and abuse. Ironically, because the methods Europeans used to manage their colonies were at times so strict, locals were more rebellious and more inclined to revolt.
Many conquered civilizations gained independence through revolts and wars with support from active political groups. In India, which later split into India and Pakistan, the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League shared a mutual desire for independence, but while the Indian National Congress wanted a single combined nation, the All-India Muslim League pushed for a separate Muslim nation. The Partition of India created two separate nations that were split by religion. Likewise, the Zimbabwe African National Union advocated freedom through military means, and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union sought foreign help. However, eventually, both groups came together to achieve independence. In many other nations, including Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines, natives struggled with their rulers in various wars.
Even halfway across the world, civilizations mirrored each other in their aspiration for dominance, severe forms of government, and difficult fights for independence. After they gained independence, these new civilizations branched off into their own forms and ideas; however, there is no doubt that their conquerors indelibly influenced them. Whether in language, technology, architecture, or art, visitors to any country today can see influences from nations across the world that have converged in one place. History is full of mirrors and parallels, not only in events, but also in its effects on the modern world.
