Western expansion In Africa and Asia - Essay Example

? Western Civilization Introduction In the 14th century, Europeans mainly concentrated in the old system of trading, whichconnected Africa and Asia. The best ceramics and silks came from china, which prompted the Western states to develop interest in their products. China’s foremost interest was to obtain slaves from Africa, peacocks from India whereas African required cowrie shells and Maldives from the Indian Ocean (McKay et al 2011). Europeans wanted silk and spices from Asia but, unfortunately, they did not have desirable merchandise to give in return. The desire for Europeans to have full access in Asia led to the establishment of numerous empires and the western Hemisphere discovery where after few decades, they did dominate trading connections and political empires in most parts of the world. Consequently, this yielded to the exchange of cultural values, conversions and resistance due to global interactions besides prompting Europeans to fight with the aim of enforcing their cultural values. This was unto the societies that they encountered with the intention of making them understand the essence of the values (McKay et al 2011). (10) The West and Global Economy New imperialism Imperialism was the domination of a state especially based on political, economic and culture of another country (McKay et al 2011). Mainly, this emanated from the west where due to the growth in the industrial revolution and technology intended obtain materials from the less developed states. This is because of insignificant competition in those states by then who had low intellectual capacity, for instance Africa. Additionally, through this practice, the West used to augment their political and economic power, which enabled them to dominate the entire world through the influence of their affluence. European dominated both the African and china coastal territories but they were unable to the natives living in these regions, for instance, Africans, Chinese and Indians (McKay et al 2011). In the year 1800, Europe attained considerable power stability, since states, which had strong regimes emerged while the industrial revolution strengthened its numerous states’ economies. New imperialism emerged due to the economic interests by manufactures’ states who ventured in diverse regions in search of natural resources such as rubber and petroleum. Additionally, these states also wanted to get new and reliable markets meant for their industrial goods, which prompted them to apply political and military power to impose new imperialism. Merchant ships needed bases for taking coal and supplies, which led to the seizing of islands to satisfy their needs. In addition, nationalism was another factor that contributed to political interest in other states especially in the third world, where its states seemed to have uncouth civilization by then like Latin America and Africa (McKay et al 2011). The colonial states of then era encompassed the France, which annexed West Africa whereas its rival Britain seized nearby lands to stop further expansion. Social Darwinism was another factor that led to new imperialism that was then growing among the westerners who practiced and supported the idea of social imperialism. Mainly, this entailed quest to destroy the weaker race because they deemed it was the nature’s way of improving human species. Trade In Indian Ocean Afro-Eurasian trade’s centralization in the Indian Ocean paved way for commercial and cultural exchange in Africa, Asia and Europe. It did increase trade between 7Th and 14Th centuries though it faced a sharp decline during the Black Death. Traders came together in multicultural forms around cities and ports (McKay et al 2011). Many of cities had attained self-governance, and there was minimal violence due to mutual and self-interest issues among the communities who represented the most developed group in the Southern China owing to their desirable trade merchandise. Africa also played a significant role in the then global trade besides economy prior the emergence of Columbus where by 1450; there were already numerous existing developed empires in Africa as well as states. Prior to the Mamulk Egyptian’s defeat by Ottamans, it was extremely powerful in Africa. Ottomans victory turned hometown to be an Islamic religion because of learning and trading center for merchandise that emerged to nearness to the Indian Ocean (McKay et al 2011). Ethiopia, which was a Christian kingdom state on its part, also maintained adequate contacts with the Europeans and it shared her prosperity with Egypt. Conversely, Swahili communities from the East Coast exchanged tortoise shells, slaves and rhinoceros horns with silk, spices and other supplies. (11) Global Warfare Causes of WW1 WWI was much complicated warfare comprising of chain of events that contributed to its uprising besides the actual causes that were much deeper. The war assumed two stages that encompassed the conventional warfare and desperate expedients. Besides the war comprised two sides, this encompassed allied powers and central powers. Allied powers were France, Britain, Russia and USA whereas central powers were Germany, Austria and Turkey (McKay et al 2011). Germans were most involved in the war though they had no plans for it initially. The causes of WW1 included nationalism, competition and militarism. Pre-war alliances called for assistance on states that were under attack and leading players in the war that were its cause. The alliance merged their military forces with active states to set the world for a major war. Serbian government faced implications due to the assassination of Ferdinand, which angered Austrians. Consequently, this prompted Austrians to declare war on Yugoslavia, but they were hesitant due to the defensive treaty with Russia. Germans held a defensive treaty with Austria and vowed to defend them from the Russians if they went ahead to war with Yugoslavia (McKay et al 2011). Germans involvement in the war was to force Russian regime to lose their bases in Europe if they lost to Yugoslavia. This is because they deemed that Russians would surrender like in 1908 when Austria invaded parts of Serbia. The war started when Germans declared war on France contending they had invaded German territories. Three days later, Germans moved their armed forces to Belgium where they captured their stronghold, which prompted England, to sent an order to the Germans telling them to withdraw from Belgium or declare war unto them. Scheck, R. (2009). Germany during WWI. Retrieved on 18Th September 2012 from, http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanyduringww1.htm Comparison essay The article bears basic similarities with lessons found, in document 11 where the latter offers an illustration of how soldiers matched in the battlefield during WWI coupled with Germans’ invasion description of Belgium with ammunitions, and rations (McKay et al 2011). They were able to capture the strong hold city of Belgium because they had prepared well prior the war. Document 11 describes vividly the state of Warfront coupled with hardships, which the then soldiers encountered where they fired in abandonment rather than by design. The article also depicts clearly how Belgium soldiers fired the Germans while retreating due to absence effective, and well-organized plan meant to aid them against their adversary. Similarly, this also occurred to the French who lacked proper preparation to equal the Germans, hence defeated. Document 11 reports of soldiers retreating and running away to escape from their enemies where besides lacking adequate tactics they did not have advanced and modern ammunition, which their opponents used. This also occurred to French soldiers who also retreated from the Germans owing to their inadequate preparation before the war, which resulted to the extermination of numerous French soldiers besides some maimed for life (McKay et al 2011). Conversely, Germans besides applying well-calculated and effective organized plan, they encircled their enemies where they were able to destroy them before they escaped. Document 11 illustrates the commotion that was evident in the war front where numerous soldiers incurred severe injuries besides some taken captive and tortured mercilessly. Dead bodies lay on the field, and scattered parts of the body were everywhere. In the article, when Germans invaded Belgium, there was a lot of commotion as Belgium soldiers tried to defend their state. This resulted to an immense bloodbath besides numerous soldiers losing their lives, which also occurred to French soldiers as they tried to resist invasion by the Germans where many people lost their lives and others became amputated in the process. The article and document 11 have many similarities as they give a clear picture of what happened during WWI. (12) Age of Anxiety Philosophies of Literature In connection to literature and philosophy, there was a response to the questioning of traditional thoughts and beliefs. The developments in literature and philosophy changed the way people perceived the world. Philosophy and art brought a reflection of post war uncertainty together with creativity (McKay et al 2011). In connection to art, the ideas of Freud about the subconscious established a new artistic movement called surrealism. Picasso established cubism style where there existed numerous sharp angles and bold geometrical shapes. In connection to literature, the lost generation believed that there was no meaning in life. Modernism Modernism is a cultural movement that entails progressive art, architecture and music that emerged in years before 1914. Artists and designers who were revolting against 19Th period academic and embraced new economic, social and political aspect of the modern world composed this movement. These artists divided the 20th period into contemporary and postmodern world period. Great depression Great depression emanated from unpredictability of both the domestic and worldwide circumstances especially that entailed economy. The depression yielded to a new deal in German and rise of radicalism in German causing WW11 (McKay et al 2011). The market crash of stock, which occurred in 1929, resulted to the great depression. Stockholders lost over $40 billion. Bank failure was another cause of the great depression since the banks did not insure their deposits. This yielded to numerous natives losing their investments. Individuals stopped buying items because of the then uncertainties regarding more fiscal predicaments. This reduced the number of commodities produced besides the decline in the work force. Americans created a policy with Europeans to save American companies. They charged high taxes for imports resulting to reduced trade interactions amid the America and foreign states. Conclusion The desire Europeans’ desire to have convenient access to Asia yielded to the formation of many empires and discovery of the Western Hemisphere. Europeans fought to enforce their cultural values to the societies, which they encountered with intent of making them understand the essence of their values (McKay et al 2011). Afro-Eurasian trade maintained a centralized status especially in the Indian Ocean, which paved way for commercial and cultural exchange in Africa, Asia and Europe. Additionally, Africa also played a significant role in trade that improved world economy prior Columbus’ expeditions. Afterwards, there was the emergence of Imperialism which implied the domination of a state by political, economic and culture of another country. New imperialism was because of economic interests where manufactures wanted to get natural resources such as rubber and petroleum. WW11 assumed two stages, which comprised of both the conventional rivalry and desperate expedients war (McKay et al 2011). Pre-war alliances called for assistance on countries that were under attack, and outstanding players in the war made this. World War 1 had a significant impact on the home fronts in many different ways especially in economics, politics and social areas. There was adverse effect to the society, as it had to adapt to growing scale of war. Reference McKay, J. P., Hill, B. D., Buckler, J., Wiesner-Hanks, M. E., Crowston, C. H., & Perry, J. (2011). A History of Western Society: From the age of exploration to the present. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Read More