Final answer:
Allowing one group to be dominant over another helped the Europeans maintain control over their colonies by establishing a power hierarchy, exploiting resources and labor, and using divide-and-rule tactics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Allowing one group to be dominant over another helped the Europeans maintain control over their colonies for a few reasons. First, it created a sense of hierarchy and power, where the dominant group had control over resources, decisions, and governance. This allowed the Europeans to establish their authority and enforce their policies without significant opposition. Second, by maintaining a dominant group, the Europeans could exploit the resources and labor of the subordinate group for their benefit. This helped in the economic development of the colonizing powers.
For example, in Africa, the Europeans divided the local populations based on ethnic or tribal lines and supported one group over others. This created division and conflict between the different groups, making it easier for the Europeans to maintain control and justify their presence. It also allowed them to manipulate local power dynamics, using certain groups as intermediaries or collaborators to further their interests.
Overall, by ensuring the dominance of one group over another, the Europeans secured their control over their colonies, established a system of exploitation for economic gain, and used divide-and-rule tactics to maintain their authority and suppress resistance.