3/11/2010

When it comes to Imperialism in the middle east during the 19th century, I always devolope a big smile on my face. I have had the privilege of taking a course on modern India with Dr. Metcalf, and I learned a great deal about Britians colonial presence in India. They went there on the grounds that they needed more money for their government, and justified that by saying Indians could not govern themselves, they were a barbaric uncivilised people, and that they were pagans greatly in need of christianity. I smile because Britian held onto India until the last thred snapped away from the crown in 1947. They had been dabbling in the middle east while they were in India, and their primary concern was to ensure greater rule over India by being present in other countries. They definitely wanted to maintain the British Raj in India. However they tried to imperialise Iran, and Palestine because they thought the people were unfit to rule themselves. Just like India, they ended up making a mess of policy, and devistating the livelyhood of people there. It is funny to me because they always made a mess of things while at the same time insisting that other countries could not govern themselves.