How did colonization justify theft and enslavement of people?

Colonization justified theft and enslavement of people through various means, predominantly by invoking notions of racial superiority and cultural dominance. European colonial powers viewed themselves as superior to the native populations they encountered in terms of civilization, culture, and societal development. This distorted perception led them to believe that it was their moral duty to "civilize" and exploit the indigenous people by taking their lands, resources, and labor. To achieve this, colonizers used a range of strategies, including legal frameworks, religious ideology, and pseudo-scientific theories, such as Social Darwinism, which asserted the superiority of European races. These justifications aimed to rationalize and legitimize the horrendous acts of theft and enslavement, dehumanizing indigenous populations and perpetuating enduring systems of oppression.

This mind map was published on 17 October 2023 and has been viewed 53 times.