Chapter 20 Part 2: Education, Religion, Identity

         There are multiple cultural changes occurred after the Europeans conquered Asia and Africa because initially, the colonial enterprise appeared promising.  Western education made its moves through missionary or government schools.  To those that were uneducated, many believed having the intelligence to read and write was like possessing magic.  Being intelligent meant escaping from the European rule like having to do labor work.  So, many look up to the Europeans who spoke French or English and wear fancy clothes.  Over in northeastern India would even brag about dreaming in English.  During nineteenth century India, the western educated people sought to change the cultural traditions while keeping classic texts of Hinduism alive.

            Not only did the style of education change but religion also provided a basis for a new or transformed society.  Christianity made a huge impact on New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and especially non-Muslim Africa.  By the 1960s nearly 50 million Africans identify as being Christian.  This was a result of military use that defeated the societies which had the people questioning the power of their old gods and local practices.  Christianity was so widespread because of modern education of mission schools.  The young, poor, and many women discovered greater opportunities for themselves when they studied with missions.  Though, some would still keep to their origins which resulted in the development of independent churches that were, still Christian, but on African rule.

            Also, in Africa, developed new ways of belonging that confronted colonial life.  Race and ethnicity were the main concerns for the African culture thus creating the idea of an “African Identity.”  These members were brought together by language, common colonial oppression, and European racism.   The well-educated Africans began to think differently causing an effort to revive the cultural self-confidence of their people.  Black people have a history of achieving just as many great things as Europeans and they deserve more respect than they have been receiving.