Colonialism and Latin America Essay Example for Free

Colonialism and Latin the States EssayEduardo Galeano is a passionate journalist and writer, a man that has put this passion into composition about the lost or often overlooked histories of Latin and South the Statess. In one of his acclaimed books, Las venas abiertas de the States Latina/ exposed Veins of Latin America, he looks at the history of exploitation in this place from early European explorers to current United States and European endeavors. In this paper using three examples from Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano, will show how Latin America has developed a dependency on strange entities. Latin America was mostly untouched by the European world until 1492, when the Spanish where looking for a cheaper way to obtain the goods from the Exotic East. Galeano even goes on to speculate that even earlier explorers could have visited gum olibanum creating the religions and gods that the native tribes worshipped (pg. 17). These Spanish explorers came looking for new goods and spices, and when they saw that these natives had bits of metal upon them and inquired after them discovered that opulent and silver were in abundance here.Thus began the Spanish Conquistadors reign begin in Latin America, though out numbered 10 to 1, the Spanish steadily moved out. The technology gaps between these two worlds was astounding, as capital of Ohio earlier noted, They knew nothing of swords, and when these were sh profess to them they grasped the sharp edges and cut themselves. Along with gunpowder, full metal armor, and most importantly horses the Spanish were able to decimate and terrorize most opposing forces that they encountered.The conquests shattered the foundations of these civilizations (pg.43), afterwards almost every study native city and been sacked and looted along with the natives being indentured or killed. The mines that were established created the superior displacement of the native people it forced them into grueling labor and destroy ed the agricultural communities. These early conquests dish uped put down the groundwork for the future exploitation of this region. Gold and silver were the main motivating forces for the Conquest, besides many former(a) goods have developed within this region. Foremost of these goods was sugar, in fact it was such suitable terrain that it proved to be a white gold. The early sugar plantations were pure profit for the Spanish lords, with legions of Afri preempt and Native slaves and flaw ideal for sugar cane. This new agriculture and overseers helped contri entirelye to the already old agriculture downfall. Forests were felled and other crops were pink-slipped as unnecessary, sugar became the only crop that mattered. These plantations developed into what we get along today in Latin America as the latifundio, which has been meticulously honed into a system that allows for the highest profits to the owners but hardly adequate conditions for its workers.The latifundio as we know it has been sufficiently mechanized to multiply the labor surplus, and thus enjoys an ample reserve of cheap hands. It no yearlong depends on the importations of African slaves or on the encomienda of Indians it merely needinesss to pay ridiculously low or in-kind wages, or to obtain labor for nothing in return for the laborers under of a minute piece of land. (pg. 60) This system created was so effective at siphoning the natural resources of the region that its growth into beas can be documented by the destroyed land and displaced populace that it leaves behind.Galeano states, And this has not been the role of sugar entirely the story has been the same with cacao, cotton, rubber, c move outee and fruits (pg. 61). With the creation of this system within Latin America, it became ripe for foreign assembly line interests to produce their product in this place. With the abundance of common resources available for cheap and with huge potential for a business owner to create huge p rofits, Latin America was directly and indirectly was given legions to many business ventures from Dutch, French, English and U. S. industry.Businesses that invested into these ventures loved the model, land was acquired with earnest and more plantations were created with their overseers working for the new companies. in a flash all these companies could obtain a bulk product for little to no cost to them, and should you happen to own the transportation for bringing the product to its destination only created more. Investors grew rich and enjoyed their success at making icon profits, though workers were not so happy.Unrest has become a staple of the Latin America countries, and unfortunately it is usually painted by our governments as the opposite of what is occurring. To begin most Latin American countries are under a Dictatorship, where the military has absolute power and the only thing with more influence is the businesses that unavoidableness to keep their labor cheap. Fore ign entities train these dictators then give them the money and goods they require to help take for the goals that the businesses request of them. Most unrest that is documented is the people of these regions rising up against these Dictators to install someone for the people, but it usually doesnt last long as foreign interest is already setting up the next player for their scheme.Latin America once boasted an ancient civilization with brilliant people astronomers, builders, leaders, but now is governed by what product is most in demand. These people have had foreign parties that have been forge the way they live and function for over 500 years. Even know as we campaign to help them we cant begin to grasp that these people need more than foreign interests to stop exploiting them, they need it to change their whole way of life. Its a double edged sword, for there shall always be a party that enters the system that is only focused on its own involve rather than the needs of the pe ople.The world has so deeply ingrained itself in the history and creation of the crutch that Latin America lives off of and if we should take that crutch away, they still wont be able to walk, but if we show them how to do it on their own and let them govern themselves and teach them. Maybe theyll be able to walk for themselves someday. Work Cited Galeano, E. H. (1997). Open veins of Latin America five centuries of the pillage of a continent (25th anniversary ed. ). New York Monthly revue Press.