Introduction

The most important development in shaping the modern world was the development of the internal combustion engine. European exploration, expansion and imperialism sits well behind that. But in terms of European expansion and imperialism, there is a lot to unpack if one is to apply a value judgment (good versus bad). Moreover, one of the main issues with that sort of framing is the unknown element of the alternatives, which could range from the expansion/imperialism of other nations, the delay of European expansion until the internal combustion engine (and subsequent advances in philosophy and governance that may have dramatically altered the shape of that expansion). European expansion likely did not occur at the best time for something like that to have occurred.

Key Underpinnings

The key underpinnings of analysis with respect to European expansion and imperialism lie with the belief among the Europeans conducting such expansion that they were inherently superior. This value was driven by both religion and by their advanced technology relative to most other societies. Combining the two elements allowed Europeans to impose their will on other societies around the world – even the stronger ones. 

Human progress should in theory work a lot like economic progress – the greater the diversification of ideas, and ability for different ideas and value systems to compete, the more likely that the optimal system... It is no stretch to suggest that the paradigm under which European expansion occurred was not just European but religious and male. Thus, while there were some differences between how this expansion was implemented by different European powers, there are many common themes that can be drawn. First was the subjugation of local populations, often by violence. Second was the lack of critical thought given to positive and negative elements of different cultures – it was simply assumed that Europeans were superior. Lastly, that the expansion more or less served only the interests of the European countries, with the interests of other cultures never taken into consideration as valid.

Key Examples

One of the key examples can be drawn from the Spanish expansion into the Americas. The Spanish encountered strong empires in the Americas, including the Aztec, Maya and Inca1. The Inca in particular were powerful, controlling significant territory and possessing substantial wealth. The Spanish, however, were not only possessed by a religion-derived sense of superiority but also superior weaponry. They were able to conquer the Inca rapidly, and without any particular consideration for what value the Inca might have offered their society, or global society in general. When considering an alternative timeline, had the Inca equivalent weapons to the Spanish, the competition for ideas alone would have been different. The conquer and…