The Impact of Cultural Conquest

The Outcome of Cultural Conquest

The conquest of one culture by another usually resulted in several outcomes, but not all are historically accurate. Typically, the enslavement of the vanquished by the conquerors, the adoption of cultural characteristics of the vanquished by the conquerors, and the adoption of cultural characteristics of the conquerors by the vanquished were common occurrences. However, the extermination of the vanquished by conquerors was not a universal outcome of cultural conquest and represents an extreme that did not always happen.

For example, during colonization, Indigenous peoples like the Comanche adapted European material culture, such as horses and weapons, which allowed their survival and even the negotiation as equals with European powers.

Furthermore, cultural exchange during colonial times often resulted in a blend of cultures and the assimilation of certain aspects by the vanquished societies. Examples include the syncretization of African religions during slavery in the Americas and the adoption of Arab-Islamic culture by Indigenous elites in the Middle East and North Africa to maintain wealth and status.

The effects of the European expansion, while often devastating, also resulted in increased education, health, and opportunities for many people around the world.