Final answer:
European colonial powers dominated various regions globally from the 16th to the 20th century, motivated by economic interests and claimed to be on a civilizing mission, which led to the exploitation and brutal treatment of indigenous populations. Resistance movements and nationalist sentiments ultimately forced some powers to propose reforms, and many regions fought for and achieved independence through prolonged conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the 16th to the 20th century, European colonial powers forcefully imposed their influence on various parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. The foundation of European colonial rule rested upon violent opposition and domination over the native peoples, which involved the exploitation of both human and natural resources, suppression of local cultures, and the spread of diseases. This resulted in the indigenous populations enduring hardships and suffering from injustices, with minimal benefits received in return.
The economic motivations of European colonizers often went hand-in-hand with brutal and authoritarian government practices, which included forced labor, heavy taxation, and control over local economies designed to benefit the mother countries. The Europeans claimed a civilizing mission, under the pretense of bringing progress to the peoples they controlled, but in practice, their colonial systems primarily served the interests of their own nations. Indigenous populations did not accept their domination quietly as they pushed back through various forms of resistance and fights for independence.
In response to growing nationalism and resistance movements, some colonial powers made attempts at reform, but these were generally not enough to satiate the colonized people's desire for full independence. This struggle eventually led to decolonization, often after prolonged and violent conflicts, as in Algeria's war of independence from France, which concluded in 1962. The impacts of colonization and the ensuing struggles for freedom have had long-lasting effects on the nations and peoples involved.