The Imperialist Diffusion of Science and Technology

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Western Science

Phase 1: Geographical Exploration

þ  European observers survey, classify, and appraise the organic and inorganic environment.

þ  Phase 1 science is not limited to the uncivilized country where European settlement is the object.  It is also to be found in regions already occupied by ancient civilizations, some with indigenous scientific traditions like India and China.

Phase 2: Colonial Science

þ  The first colonial scientists join in the survey of the organic and inorganic environment conducted by the European observers.

þ  This training will direct the colonial scientist’s interests to the scientific fields and problems delineated by European scientists.

þ  Benjamin Franklin and Mikhail V. Lomonosov – Heroes of Colonial Science

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imperialism:Case of India --

Imperialism

þ  Imperialism represented a vent for surplus, a source of strategic raw materials and foodstuffs, a market for the cotton manufactures of Europe.

þ  “Informal Imperialism” (where an industrial nation brought its political power to bear upon nominally independent states)

þ  Imperialism may include more than colonialism, with all the result of administration to the home economy entailed in the latter term.

þ  An “imperialist” is any force acting upon a relatively underdeveloped nation of the 19^th century which did not directly arise from the workings of the international economy.

The Case of India

E.N. Komarov published (in 1962) the negative effects of British colonialism to the economy of India.  The following are the Komarov’s claims:

1.       Even before the British came to India, its economy had already started to become industrialized.  Towns were centers of the handicraft industry during India’s pre-colonial period.

2.       The British East India Company monopolized the Indian economy.  This caused the decrease of native merchant capitalists in India.

3.       Reforms on tenure brought about the exploitation of peasantry by giving landlords more authority over the property of the peasant and the peasant itself.

4.       There was unequal trade relationship between Britain and India during the industrial revolution of Britain, thus preventing the development of the Indian economy and its transition from feudalism to capitalism.

5.       The industrial workers were exploited as the production of raw materials was forced to be increased, further preventing the rise of capitalism in India.

6.       Agricultural technology was not developed as the labor became cheaper and as the employment became scarce.  These were due to additional tenure and revenue system reforms of Britain.

7.       The industry in India was not modeled after the British industries.  The Indian industry was saddled by the excessive colonial imports coming in and payments on taxes and other responsibilities which weren’t translated to reproduction but administrative purposes.

In Irfan Habib’s work, he describes the economy of India during the Mughal period.  Habib stated that the adaptation of new technologies, especially in agriculture, weren’t hindered by the existing differentiation of peasantry and other value systems but by insufficient capital and skills needed from the people in such technologies.  He also said that prior to British colonialism, the caste system was already disintegrating and capitalism and industrialism was rising.

“Drain” and “de-industrialization” are the usual topics of debate in the analysis of the Indian economy.

                “Drain” pertains to the consumption and eventual drain of the resources of economy from its revenue as they were used mainly for administrative purposes instead of being used in the continuation of the production.  The interests paid in debts, military charges and civil charges were some of the administrative responsibilities were the bulk of the gains were used.

                “De-industrialization” in India was due to the clinging of the economy to agriculture rather than manufacturing or other industries.  Although their exports increased, technological diffusion and industrial revolution was prevented in India because of this.

The Case of China

China, “the victim of imperialism without annexation”, became a prey of the western predatory imperialist nations after the two opium wars.

The first opium war (1840-42) came about when the Chinese authorities destroyed the opium which were illegally brought and sold in China by the British traders.  This war was won by Britain and China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking (1842).  The provisions of the treaty were:

1.       Opening of five ports (Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai) to British trade.

2.       Renouncing the island of Hong Kong to Great Britain,

3.       Payment of war indemnity ($21,000,000), and

4.       Enabling all British traders to do business directly with the people.

The second opium war (1856-60) came about when a French missionary was killed by a Chinese.  China lost to the alliance of France and Britain and the Treaties of Tientsin (1858) and the Peking Convention (1860) were signed with the following provisions:

1.       Cession of the Kowloon peninsula to Great Britain,

2.       Foreign diplomats were allowed to reside in Peking,

3.       Ten more ports in China were opened to international trade,

4.       Foreigners were allowed to wander to any part of China,

5.       Christian missionaries were given protection, and

6.       The Opium trade was legalized.

China became a vulnerable country and this weakness was taken advantage by the imperialist powers—Britain, France, Prussia, Denmark, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Austria-Hungary.  They divided the vast land of China into pieces of territories called the Spheres of Influence over which the imperialist power has the exclusive right to exploit the natural resources found in its piece.

The imperialist powers in China until 1895 were Europeans and Americans.  After the loss of China in the Sino-Japanese war (1894-95), the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed with the provisions that China would give up its claim in Korea, paid a war indemnity ($158,000,000), and cession of Formosa, Arthur Port, and Liaotung Peninsula to Japan.  The war also opened China to new imperialist powers such as Russia.  Under the Russian imperialism, the Trans-Siberian railway was constructed for the following purposes:

1.       To promote the economic development of China and other colonies of Russia,

2.       To provide easier transportation of Russian troops to its colonies, and

3.       To connect Moscow and Vladivostok (“Dominion of the East”).

As a conclusion, the Chinese economy died during the first part of imperialism (under Americans and Europeans) for only the foreigners controlled and gained in the trades.  Technological transfer and industrialization could have been effective if China controlled its economy.  Under the Russian imperialism, aside from Suez Canal, the Trans-Siberian railroad aided to the diffusion of technology in China.

Narrative/ Things I learned:

In this topics I learned those effects of imperialism in the progression of science and technology. Imperialism is when a mother country takes over a smaller nation or colony for political, social, and/or economic reasons.  Imperialism has been a major force in shaping the modern world.  The effects of Imperialism have been interpreted from a variety of viewpoints.  This major Imperialism occurred during the late 19th Century and early 20th century.  A positive effect is seen in document one called "Modern Progressive Nations," it shows how the larger nations gave to the smaller colonies.  The nations built them roads, canals, and railways.  Showed them the telegraph, newspaper, established schools for them, gave them the blessing of their civilization, and overall made them economized.  They were part of modern culture after this occurred.  Another positive effect is seen in document three called "Colonial Governments and Missionaries. " It shows how the colonial governments introduced improved medical care, and better methods of sanitation.  There were new crops; tools and farming methods, which helped, increase food production.  These changes meant less death to smaller colonies, and overall improve the state of living.  They now could live longer and have better sanitation compared to the earlier imperialism.

Sources: Books of Imperialism of :
George Basalla,

By Ian Inkster

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