Writing Together Summative (TEAM 5)
“Explain two impacts of colonization on the colonized country in general”
Environmental Degradation:
Colonialism brought attempts to erase centuries of place-based practices of sustainable
ecosystem stewardship and governance, which were unethical as they required a separation
between nature and humans so wealth could be accumulated without remorse. Colonial powers
have also exacerbated the problem by creating global infrastructure and encouraging wealthier
countries to extract natural resources from poorer countries, resulting in the destabilization of the
native cultures and their environmental sustainability, which is not surprising because, according
to Alfred Crosby, colonists were successful if they were able to alter the native ecosystem of the
conquered land. It’s undeniable that a lot of countries that were colonized all over the globe tell
almost the same story about how colonialists saw their territories as places with unlimited
resources to exploit in order to strengthen and enrich the colonialists’ motherland, with little
consideration for the long-term impacts. One of the best examples of this is when French colonists
in Haiti adopted mercantile colonialism, which focused primarily on natural resource extraction
rather than settlement, and the environmental consequences of the mercantile colonialism of the
French are currently responsible for Haiti's ranking as among the most endangered countries on
the Climate Risk Index. In the present, several industries involved in traumatic exploitation of
natural resources, like gem and mineral mining, that destroy the world’s ecological sustainability,
leading to deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats, trace their origins to early
colonialism.
Abrogation of Religion:
As an example, the indigenous Filipinos had religions of their own long before Spanish
reign such as believing in anitos, spirits, and “anting-anting” to name a few. Changes in religion
brought by the Spanish were ancient practices, prayers, and burials which the Filipinos might have
adopted due to certain aspects of Spanish Catholicism which were comparable to aspects of
Filipino religion. Aside from Catholicism, the Filipinos were also influenced by Arab traders who
bartered goods with Filipino merchants. The Filipinos then adopted Islam practices, and at present,
the majority of Filipinos practice Islam and Catholicism. Nevertheless, some Indigenous tribes
continue to practice their religion and practices while impacts on religion of the colonial regime
remain.
References:
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Voskoboynik, D. (2018, October 18). Colonialism can’t be forgotten – it’s still destroying
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from
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Ogunbado, A. (2012). Impacts of Colonialism on Religions: An Experience of
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