Explain the civilizing mission, History

Assignment Help:

The Civilizing Mission

The earliest and, to some, most important reason for establishment of European colonial empires had been to spread Christianity. By the later 19th century, this idea had evolved into a broader goal: spreading what most Europeans believed to be their higher form of civilization. Most Europeans of this time believed that their continent had become more economically, politically and culturally advanced than Africa and Asia, because the people there Europeans believed were "primitive" and uncivilized. They believed therefore that Europeans had a "civilizing mission" to spread their way of life around the world.

This idea was linked by many to the theories of Charles Darwin on the evolution of species. Some, like Karl Pearson, modified Darwin's theory into a theory of "survival of the fittest." This modified theory, known as social Darwinism, held that some people were naturally selected to rule over others. Social Darwinists applied this to mean that the more "civilized" race of Europeans should rule over all the "less civilized" people of the world. To support this argument, social Darwinists pointed to the racial difference between Europeans and Africans.

They considered the black skins of people from central and southern Africa to be evidence that Europeans were genetically more advanced. They therefore considered it the historical responsibility of Europeans to spread their superior culture to the rest of the world. This idea was expressed as the "white man's burden."

 


Related Discussions:- Explain the civilizing mission

Who was marco polo and why did he travel to china, Who was Marco Polo and w...

Who was Marco Polo and why did he travel to china? I thought that marco polo was just the name of that game lol. Can someone please tell me who he is, and why Marco Polo went to ch

Activities of the government, What is your opinion of the activities of the...

What is your opinion of the activities of the government "on the home front" during World War II?

Contemporary life in the u.s, Describe a specific example of life in Ancien...

Describe a specific example of life in Ancient Rome that is found in contemporary life in the U.S

Hay!!!, kas ir vesture? what is history?

kas ir vesture? what is history?

Czar alexander ii''s emancipation edict, Read the passage below to answer q...

Read the passage below to answer question 3. In the afternoon, Garibaldi made a tour of inspection round [Palermo]. The popular idol [Garibaldi], in his red flannel shirt, with a l

Can you describe the northwest center, Can you describe the "Northwest Cent...

Can you describe the "Northwest Center" and its place in the 16th-17th century history of Europe? Thanks!

Why did bill clinton win reelection in 1996, Writing a 25 page paper on the...

Writing a 25 page paper on the populist movement in the state of Oregon. where do i start? Why did Bill Clinton win reelection in 1996? 1.united Democratic Party inspired by

Relationship between the spanish and the native americans, what is columbus...

what is columbus relationship between the spanish and the native Americans

Role of the united states in world affairs explain, How did Roosevelt chang...

How did Roosevelt change the position and role of the United States in world affairs with our participation in WWII

Explain rousseau''s social contract, Rousseau's Social Contract One of ...

Rousseau's Social Contract One of the most important books on politics written during the Enlightenment was Rousseau's Social Contract (1762). The basic idea is that people, as

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd