European colonization began as early as the 15 th century. The earliest colonies were first created in the Americas, India, and even Asia. The Europeans were also engaged in colonization in the 9 th century, and this time it mainly involved the Africans and some parts of Asia. One of the main reasons why the Europeans succeeded in colonization across the globe is their utilization of scientific endeavors that included maps, archeology, arms, transport, and communication among others.
Cartography
Cartography involved the making of the maps that aided the Europeans in creating colonies across the world. Physical cartography for many years was used as an important tool in exploration, transatlantic discoveries, and colonials from as early as the fifteenth century. 1 The better creation of maps was vital for the European countries to reach various parts of the world including the Americas, the Atlantic world, and beyond. 2 The ancient maps that were created mainly focused on cities, roads, rivers, and harbors, unlike the modern ones which mainly emphasize on the exact lay of the land. Before the European colonialism, some great developments in map-making, which opened the door for the modern map-making. The colonial drive caused the European powers to map two of the most important areas of colonization that included the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Also, critical to note is that these colonial powers had begun by mapping their own countries hence having a good understanding of their homeland. The maps were also used to know and understand the geography of the world and to determine the suitability of a certain area for colonization. Most colonial powers were after strategic places which would offer them benefits. Through the use of the maps, vital information concerning the geographical features such as mountains, lakes, and hills among others would be revealed.
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It was imperative for the colonial masters from Europe to have a clear picture of the areas they wanted to take control over. This was enabled by cartography as maps played a vital role in defining lines and territorial boundaries created by natural geographical features such as oceans, seas, and rivers. The maps were therefore as tools for getting from place to place. In the middle ages, the maps that had been drawn were essential in helping the colonial masters navigate and sail across the world with much more focus and organized itinerary. 3 The cartographic revolution was characterized by printing that took place together with mathematical innovations provided two important things. One it gave the people an improved view of the world especially the European colonialists and secondly it enabled the measuring of distances which could be used to approximate the distance and the number of days taken to reach a potential colony. The maps were also used for strategic reasons. An example of a way in which they were used for strategic reason was to spread propaganda. Whenever there were territorial rivalries, other European nations would create maps depicting certain inaccuracies to make the opponent discouraged. Maps were also instrumental during the international treaties where negotiations for territories took place. An example where maps were greatly used for territorial negotiation was during the scramble and partitioning of Africa where various European nations gathered to deliberate on the drawing of the boundaries.
Archeology
Archeology is described as the scientific study of human behavior and culture from the origins of humanity to the present age. Human behavior is studied by the examination of remains from the past generations. The remains could be in the form of fossils, food remains, buildings, and artifacts among others. The archeological studies especially on regions such as the South, North, and Central America, and the Caribbean was important in influencing colonization by the European masters. The archeological studies influenced colonialism by the Europeans not only in the Americas but the rest of the world in three major ways. The archeological artifacts in various parts of the world including the Americas, Mesopotamia, West Africa, Liberia, and Sardinia among others can be vital in recreating the social life in the cultures of these places. 4 Understanding the culture of a given people is a prerequisite of colonialism as the European nations became aware of their social life and practices which is vital in determining how they would exert their rule in such areas. Secondly, through the same artifacts valuable information that regards the religion, myths, and rituals can also be achieved through the archeological studies. Such information is vital for the creation of colonial identities that were evident in countries such as Oceania, Peru, and Italy. 5 The third important way in which archeology influenced the process of colonization by the European nations was that through certain important information and documents that included archival documents, visual imagery, popular culture, urban landscape, and comparative ethnography. They were vital in providing a vivid picture of a given area such as the Cape of Good Hope.
Scientific Advances in the Field Of Medicine
Scientific improvements in the field of health care and medicine was a major influence that oversaw the European colonization of the world. Western colonization resulted in many diseases, epidemics, and other infectious diseases that were present in the indigenous community. During their time in Africa, most of the explorers and colonial masters were unable to cope with the tropical disease such as malaria which threatened their lives. However, which the improvements in the healthcare and medicine, they were able to treat the indigenous diseases which made them focus on their core business. On crossing the Atlantic, most Europeans experienced high mortality and morbidity rates. The huge number of deaths coupled up with the differential climate that included an unusual amount of heat, air, moisture, and environment prompted the emergence of a new field of science that would focus on medicine and health issues. During the colonization of America by the European countries, slaves were transited from Africa to go and work on the plantations in the Americas. Most of the slaves fell sick and died on the way due to the unusual climatic conditions. Therefore, to maximize on the labor, the slaves had to be saved with the invention of medicine. Also, the health and medicine were vital in saving the lives of missionaries, European military, travelers, and settlers among others.
Communication
The Scientific invention in the field of communication was also vital in ensuring that the colonization process by the European powers was a success. The main aim of inventing communication devices and procedures was to ensure people kept in touch with the centers and colonial peripheries. 6 The cable telegraphy was used because it enabled a quicker means of communication. The reliance on cable technology was becoming of the most important ways of controlling a colonial territory. Most French colonies were connected with the cable telegraphy. One of the most important features of the cable communication spearheaded by the telegraphy was the fact that it reduced communication time from months and weeks to days and hours. The communication enabled better management of colonies and information concerning the slaves was also communicated in time to ensure that labor is efficient.
Transport
Scientific inventions in the field of transportation were also an important invention that revolutionized colonization by the European nations. Ships and boats were invented to make voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in a bid to access the colonial centers. The development of the steam power and iron were also breakthrough as far as the transportation industry was concerned during the colonial periods. 7 In the nineteenth century, there was a transition from sail to steam energy which improved the efficiency and the speed at which people traveled to and from their colonial centers. The development of railroads in the mid-19 th century enabled the transportation of soldiers, slaves, and goods produced from the plantation.
Arms
The process of colonization was also marred with incidences of fighting, resistance, and violence. 8 The invention of arms such as riffles and guns was important in ensuring that the colonial authorities from Europe mitigated any potential threat that attempted to disrupt their main goal of establishing colonial centers in such countries. Together with the invention of ammunition, the European was armed with deadly weapons that they could use to intimidate any form of rebuttal or retaliation that is meted against them. 9
In conclusion, the process of European colonization of the Americas and other parts of the world was greatly influenced by scientific endeavors and innovations. The maps were vital in ensuring that the colonizers were well versed with the geography of the intended location and was also used as a negotiation tool during conferences to discuss territorial boundaries. The archeological study was important in understanding the culture and painting a picture for the colonialist on the history and culture of the people. Transport and communication were important in ensuring that there is a constant contact between the center and colonial settings. Improvements in the field of healthcare ensured that the life of the colonizers, missionaries, travelers, and slaves were safeguarded. The arms were vital in ensuring that any form of resistance was meted with equal force.
Bibliography
Acuña, Rodolfo. "Occupied America." The Latino/a Condition: A Critical Reader, (2015): 61-4.
Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. Post-colonial studies: The key concepts . Routledge, 2013.
Gosden, Chris. "Postcolonial archaeology." Archaeological theory today (2012): 251-266.
Lehning, James R. European colonialism since 1700 . Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/postcolonialism . Routledge, 2015.
Lydon, Jane, and Uzma Z. Rizvi, eds. Handbook of postcolonial archaeology . Routledge, 2016.
Monmonier, Mark Stephen. The history of cartography . University of Chicago Press, 2015.
Schulten, Susan. Mapping the Nation: History and Cartography in Nineteenth-Century America . University of Chicago Press, 2012.
Spees, Alanna M., Christopher A. Lopez, Dawn D. Kingsbury, Sebastian E. Winter, and Andreas J. Bäumler. "Colonization resistance: battle of the bugs or Menage a Trois with the host?." PLoS Pathogens 9, no. 11 (2013): e1003730.
1 Monmonier, Mark Stephen. The history of cartography . University of Chicago Press, 2015.
2 Acuña, Rodolfo. "Occupied America." The Latino/a Condition: A Critical Reader, (2015): 61
3 Schulten, Susan. Mapping the Nation: History and Cartography in Nineteenth-Century America . University of Chicago Press, 2012.
4 Gosden, Chris. "Postcolonial archaeology." Archaeological theory today (2012): 251-266.
5 Lydon, Jane, and Uzma Z. Rizvi, eds. Handbook of postcolonial archaeology . Routledge, 2016.
6 Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/postcolonialism . Routledge, 2015.
7 Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. Post-colonial studies: The key concepts . Routledge, 2013
8 Lehning, James R. European colonialism since 1700 . Cambridge University Press, 2013
9 Spees, et al. Colonization resistance. Pathogens 9, no. 11 (2013): e1003730.
