HSY2602
ASSIGNMENT NO 2 2024
AUGUST 16, 2024
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, HSY2602: EARLY STATE FORMATION, SLAVERY AND
COLONIAL CONQUEST IN AFRICA ASSESSMENT 2
SESSMENT 2: ESSAY INTRODUCTION
Introduction
### The Historical Grounds for the Rise of Racist Beliefs in the 19th
Century
The 19th century was a pivotal period in the development of modern
racial ideologies. It was characterized by the consolidation of
nationalism, globalization, colonization, and advancements in pseudo-
scientific theories that all contributed to the entrenchment of racist
beliefs. To understand the historical grounds for the rise of these
beliefs, one must consider the interplay of sociopolitical changes,
economic transformations, and scientific developments during this
time.
#### Colonial Expansion and Economic Factors
One of the most significant drivers of racist ideology in the 19th century
was the Age of Colonialism. European powers like Britain, France, and
Belgium expanded their empires into Africa, Asia, and the Americas,
often justifying their actions with a belief in their cultural superiority.
The notion that Western civilization was more advanced than the
societies they encountered was deeply rooted in economic motivations.
Colonizers sought resources and labor; to legitimize their exploitation
of non-European peoples, they propagated the idea that these groups
were inferior.
One illustrative example is the Scramble for Africa, which saw European
nations race to claim territories and establish colonies. According to
scholars like Edward Said in "Orientalism," the portrayal of colonized
peoples as "the Other" facilitated a binary understanding of civilization
versus barbarism, fostering a belief that justified the oppression of
indigenous populations. Furthermore, the economic reliance on slave
labor in the United States, as explored in works like "Race and Slavery
ASSIGNMENT NO 2 2024
AUGUST 16, 2024
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, HSY2602: EARLY STATE FORMATION, SLAVERY AND
COLONIAL CONQUEST IN AFRICA ASSESSMENT 2
SESSMENT 2: ESSAY INTRODUCTION
Introduction
### The Historical Grounds for the Rise of Racist Beliefs in the 19th
Century
The 19th century was a pivotal period in the development of modern
racial ideologies. It was characterized by the consolidation of
nationalism, globalization, colonization, and advancements in pseudo-
scientific theories that all contributed to the entrenchment of racist
beliefs. To understand the historical grounds for the rise of these
beliefs, one must consider the interplay of sociopolitical changes,
economic transformations, and scientific developments during this
time.
#### Colonial Expansion and Economic Factors
One of the most significant drivers of racist ideology in the 19th century
was the Age of Colonialism. European powers like Britain, France, and
Belgium expanded their empires into Africa, Asia, and the Americas,
often justifying their actions with a belief in their cultural superiority.
The notion that Western civilization was more advanced than the
societies they encountered was deeply rooted in economic motivations.
Colonizers sought resources and labor; to legitimize their exploitation
of non-European peoples, they propagated the idea that these groups
were inferior.
One illustrative example is the Scramble for Africa, which saw European
nations race to claim territories and establish colonies. According to
scholars like Edward Said in "Orientalism," the portrayal of colonized
peoples as "the Other" facilitated a binary understanding of civilization
versus barbarism, fostering a belief that justified the oppression of
indigenous populations. Furthermore, the economic reliance on slave
labor in the United States, as explored in works like "Race and Slavery