NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History: What was meant by the ‘civilizing mission’ of the colonizers?
- European countries acquired colonies in the East Asian countries to exploit their natural resources.
- Unlike other colonizers, the French colonizers did not aim only for economic exploitation of their colonies. Their mission was also driven by the idea of a ‘civilising mission’.
- As the British had done in India, the French claimed that they would introduce modern, civilised life to the Vietnamese.
- They considered that it was their duty to bring modern ideas into their colonies even at the cost of destroying the local culture, beliefs, etc.
- The French believed that like all other Europeans it was their duty to civilize the colonies even if this meant destruction to local cultures, religion and traditions.
- Kipling called it white man’s burden. It was thought that it might be possible only if the advanced countries established their colonies over the backward and uncivilised people.