IMPACTS OF COLONIALIZATION TO THE ATLANTIC WORLD

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The coming of the colonial powers to the Atlantic world was not expected by the people

to bring the repercussions that came at the time. As the norms of the people in the region

demanded, the visitors were well welcomed and appreciated to come and enjoy their various

cultures as well as share in their way of life. However, the colonial powers came with a negative

mindset. They came for minerals as well as to colonize the people. They had the idea that the

natives were so behind and so they do this as an opportunity for them to come and explore what

had not yet been discovered in the land 1 . They came for resources for them majorly and for the

natives too.

The coming of the colonialist brought both positive and negative impacts to the people of

the Atlantic region. The positive impacts include the introduction of education to the people. The

system at the time did not put much emphasis on the education and knowledge to the people.

Thus when they came they put up several schools and other institutions of learning to the people.

The children of the land then benefited from the kind gesture as they could gain knowledge

through the studies. Similarly, the churches were also introduced. Several missionaries came

along with the colonial powers and thus they used the opportunity to spread the gospel to the

local people. They had a deep conviction to preach as they found the local people had not

appreciated the value of religion thus in doing so led to the spread of the gospel2. Several

churches were built to enable the local people to worship from there as opposed to going to the

shrines or mountains as before.

1
Usoltseva, M. (2018). The Question of Identity in Indian Reformers' discourse After the First World War: Madhaviah's Case. The world, (1),
89.

2 Pugh, J. (2018). Rationality and Island Studies in the Anthropocene. Island Studies Journal, 13(1).
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In the same way, several missionary schools, hospitals were also built. This happened

majorly because they realized the local people were really dying from diseases that could be

treated such as malaria. Thus they came and built such hospitals to enhance them find treatment

whenever they felt unwell. Other positive impacts include the introduction of a democratic

political form of governance, an independent judiciary, free press and many others which are the

major long-term impacts as well.

The negative impacts include the introduction of the slave trade. This was the major

short-term impact. So many people were forced via the Atlantic Ocean to go provide labor

overseas but they carried a lot of resources on their way. Another short-term impact was the

natives were forcefully allowed to pay hut taxes to the government in place; they were also

forced to provide free and cheap labor to the farms of the white settlers3 This led to the

devastation of the natives making them bitter thus forming movements that helped them fight for

independence.

Prior to the coming of the colonial powers, the natives used to live in harmony with each

other. They practised their traditional way of worship and cultivated their lands well which

enabled them to earn a living thus their survival. However, cultural identity had not taken route

in them but the colonialists helped them appreciate their various cultures and practices. The

natives also had no idea about the existence or exploration and mining of minerals, they were so

illiterate as well but all in all, they enjoyed their way of living.

The legacy of the positive impacts of colonialism can be seen by the way press has

become so independent today. They are free to air their views and conform to the public what is

3
Ibid1
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really happening in the world around them. Presence of so many schools and the high literacy

levels are a thing to be appreciated. The legacy of education is something to be very proud of.

Similarly, the many hospitals and reduced mortality rates from diseases that are treatable is also

something to be proud of too.

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Bibliography.

Pugh, J. (2018). Rationality and Island Studies in the Anthropocene. Island Studies Journal,

13(1).

Usoltseva, M. (2018). The Question of Identity in Indian Reformers' discourse After the First

World War: Madhaviah's Case. The world, (1), 89.

Zande, T. V. D. (2018). A Third World Concept: The Asian Socialist Conference, Ideologies of

Neutrality, Development, And Anti-Imperialism in The Laboratory of The 1950s (Master's

Thesis).