The Cycle of Conquest and Freedom

During my time looking at the conquest and independence at many different countries, I was able to see several commonalities between them. It seems as if all conquerors use the same techniques when it comes to colonizing an area, and that all of the conquered people have a true desire to be free. The blogs I have viewed artfully illustrate how the incoming people use their advanced technology and civilized ways to take advantage of these less cultured indigenous inhabitants. They also display how the fight for freedom was usually fronted by one specific person or organization, and how this leader of the cause rallied the people of the country, and truly led them to freedom.

Conquest of countries was surprisingly similar after I viewed several different blogs. The startling thing I found was that all of the conquerors took advantage of the less worldly aboriginal populace by exploiting the naiveté of the people, and using their advanced technology against the less progressive martial forces. The conquest of Mexico, Argentina, and Jamaica are three prime examples of how superior military forces easily took power from the native people. For example, Mexico was originally inhabited only by ancient, tribal civilizations like the Aztecs. While the Aztecs were quite innovative for a clannish society, they were no match for the group of Spaniards led by Hernan Cortez. Cortez used the lack of knowledge of the people to his advantage. He captured the leader of the Aztecs, murdered him, and claimed Mexico as Spain’s. Argentina’s story is quite similar due to the fact that it was also conquered and colonized by the Spanish. After the Spanish built settlements in Argentina, they swiftly took control of native’s land. One thing I saw was how they inadvertently used diseases to their advantage in taking over Argentina. This weakened the conquered people and allowed the colonization process to go much too smoothly. Spain was also able to conquer Jamaica in a similar fashion. The conquering of Jamaica was significant because it really displayed how the Europeans stabbed the poor natives in the back. The Arawaks, or tribal natives of Jamaica were a kind hearted and pacific people. The Spanish used this for their own personal gain by using disease and superior weaponry to overtake the Arawaks, and made them into slaves. Invasion of these countries was defined by the tactics and technology of the conquistadors.

A common aspect of the decolonization and liberation of the countries presented in the blogs is key leadership from a single person or group. This leader of the independence movement would call for freedom, and the people of the country would respond accordingly. Egypt, Pakistan, and Rwanda are three examples that show the emergence of leader as a main reason they gained freedom. In Egypt, it was the Revolutionary Command Council, created in 1952. Over the next four years, the RCC was able to gain freedom for their country by ridding Egypt of all British troops. Pakistan’s story will forever be intertwined with that of India. Gandhi was the first man to step up and lead the Indian Independence movement, and he was followed by two men who struggled for a Muslim country separate from India. These two revolutionary men were Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his right hand man, Liaquat Ali Khan. These two men headed the movement for a Muslim India, and because of their efforts, Pakistan was formed. The Rwandan Patriotic Force, or RPF, was a Tutsi group that fought for egalitarianism in Rwanda as the Hutu was sadly oppressing their fellow Rwandans. The RPF were able to make Rwanda much more equal, and with Rwanda now under the leadership of the RPF, they are rising from the ashes like a Phoenix.

All conquest and liberation of countries are similar in the fact that they begin with a more powerful nation taking over, and end with a new, revitalized country surging to power. I find this interesting because all countries have different ideas and each nation is individual in its own way. But the desire to be free and ridden of the shackles of oppression rises above people’s trivial differences and variances. Freedom is something all people hope for, and it is something that each and every person deserves.