Empire: meaning, function and the ideas behind the conquest of other lands - Assignment Example

Empire: meaning, function and the ideas behind the conquest of other lands The word empire tends to show diversity and alienation, even though it may be seen as a region that’s part of an autonomous different polity which is brought under a rule of the imperial power at some point. (Howe 65). This definition attempts to combine the qualities of hierarchy in politics and cultural diversity. An empire is a large, composite, multi-ethnic political unit usually created by conquest and divided between a dominant cent r and subordinate peripheries. (Howe 65).

Diverse political entities in which a dominant center endeavored to rule culturally closely related polities that hardly qualify as separate national units, might be more difficult to accommodate within this template, and lends this definition a whiff of anachronism. Overall, core-periphery-centered concepts of empire work well for any empires that are republics, because the citizenry of the dominant core will strive to preserve any privileges associated with its formal separation from the population of the dominated periphery, and any modern colonial empires (Conrad 35).

This shows the disparity between the European idea of civilization and the reality of it as is evidenced by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African population. The heart of darkness is indicative of the evil and greed in humanity (Conrad 35). These emissaries of light are shown to be crude and violent. They had no regard for the destruction of Africa’s natural environment (Howe 65). This statement reveals the real motive for venturing into the Congo which was not bring a better, more civilized lifestyle to the poor; but to satisfy their lust for power.

It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale (Conrad 35). This makes the empire functional in that it may not control the local government necessarily, but it will send its troops periodically and at the same time provide services to its territories and subsidiaries (Howe 65).Works CitedConrad, Joseph. "Heart of darkness." n.d. Imperial and Colonial History. 4 March 2014.Howe, Stephen. Empire:A Very Short Introduction. London: Oxford University Press, 2002.