Colonialism made African colonies dependent by introducing a mono- cultural economy for the territories. It also dehumanized African labour force and traders. It forced Africans to work in colonial plantations at very low wages and displaced them from their lands.

Colonialism’s impacts include environmental degradation, the spread of disease, economic instability, ethnic rivalries, and human rights violations—issues that can long outlast one group’s colonial rule.

The policies of colonialism forced the demise of African industry and created a reliance on imported goods from Europe. Had native industry been encouraged and cultivated by the colonizing powers, Africa would probably be in a much better economic and technological position today.

The consequence was economic growth. In consequence colonialism drove economic development in some parts of Europe and retarded it in others. Colonialism did not, however, merely impact the development of those societies that did the colonising. Most obviously, it also affected the societies that were colonised.

As the journalist highlights, there are many positive effects, for instance, an improvement of communication, new infrastructure such as transport routes and the establishment of an access to the rest of the world mainly through the English language.

The first European colonization wave began with Castilian Conquest of the Canary Islands, and primarily involved the European colonization of the Americas, though it also included the establishment of European colonies in India and in Maritime Southeast Asia.

In the social sphere British impact proved to be beneficial. The prohibition of Sati, abolition of child-marriage, introduction of widow remarriage, checking of infanticide, polygamy, untouchabihty etc. eradicated age old social evils from the Indian society.

Did India gain or lose from British rule? Some recent research suggests that British rule did little for India in economic terms. Britain gained hugely from ruling India, but most of the wealth created was not invested back into the country.

Here, in chronological order, are the five most powerful economic empires of all time:

• The Roman Empire, circa 100 AD: 25 to 30% of global output.
• The Song Dynasty in China, circa 1200 AD: 25% to 30% of global output.
• Mughal Empire in India, circa 1700 AD: 25% of global output.

United States

Empires at their greatest extent

India

China