Question

What did 19th century imperialism have to do with this 20th century genocide ?

Answer 1

Answer: what do they have in common is a narrowly racist or (perhaps in a more scientific language) social Darwinian perspective that was supposed to justify 19th-century colonization. It means that both 19th-century colonialism and 20th-century genocide were justified as a Darwinian "law of history" according to which the strongest dominate or eliminate those who are weaker.

Explanation: Racism is a surprisingly modern term (from the 19th century) that was imported from natural sciences (in natural sciences appeared in 18th century). This import took place especially thanks to social Darwinism which spread across Europe during the 2nd half of the 19th century. Genocide was practiced always (not always with this name)....unfortunately it seems that it is only Homo sapiens sapiens whos is able to commit such a massive killing.

Answer 2

19th-century imperialism, driven by the pursuit of political, cultural, and economic gains, often resulted in extreme violence and set the stage for 20th-century genocides such as those against the Herero and Nama. The ideologies and technologies of this era enabled European powers to exploit and decimate indigenous populations, contributing to the large-scale violence and resentment that would later manifest in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

Step-by-step explanation:

19th-century imperialism was characterized by European expansion into Africa and Asia, often justified by ideologies like Social Darwinism and a perceived racial superiority. This era was marked by violence and atrocities such as the genocide of the Herero and Nama people in the early 20th century. The violent practices and ideologies of imperialism set a precedent for brutality and laid the foundations for conflicts and genocides witnessed in the 20th century. The imperial powers' disregard for the welfare of native populations, along with the exploitation of their resources, led to significant resentment and violence which culminated in genocidal acts. European nations were heavily invested in maintaining their empires, often driven by political, cultural, and economic motives, leading to conflicts both on the imperial frontiers and eventually within Europe itself, as seen in the outbreak of the First World War.

The high death toll of colonial subjects during the imperialist era, much higher than any conflict within Europe before the First World War, indeed sets a grim stage for the genocides and large-scale violence of the 20th century. The case of the genocide against the Herero and Nama is directly linked to the imperialistic violence of the 19th century, as it was facilitated by the same Europeans who had claimed these lands. The expansion of empires also brought about unforeseen consequences like the spread of diseases due to the increased interaction between colonizers and the indigenous populations, often resulting in a devastating impact on the latter.