Colonization in history dates back to the early 18th century when European settlers migrated to Asian, African, and American regions and established their political order for their own survival. Those who came to seek a better life on the newfound lands began to exploit the natives by encroaching upon their culture, economy, and education system. Colonialism was at its peak during the period 1798-1922. It began with Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt, followed by a gradual occupation of most of the Arab countries by Britain and France. In 1920, after the First World War, the League of Nations approved the mandate that awarded these European countries the right to rule the newly-created Arab states. Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Oman, and Yemen were under the British rule. Algeria, Morocco, and Syria came under the French and Libya under the Italian colonizers. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey were independent of European control.
Before the colonial era, the Muslim world was politically united under the Caliphate or the Sultanate. Not until the time of European succession did they have nationalistic notions of territory and nation states. The interference of Europe in their social and political structure led to the rise of fundamentalists who began nationalist movements against colonization. The period of decolonization witnessed numerous uproars of demand for freedom. Most of the Muslim countries gained freedom between 1945 and 1960. Some historians opine that although independent from European control, the nationalism had given way to religious movements that resulted in politicized religious groups’ trying to rule the Arab land. These Islamist groups started reacting against the local elite who led a westernized life under colonial influence. Hence, with colonialism came the Western impact on the native lifestyle, culture, and language. Nayar (2008, 186) says, “Colonialism is an encounter between cultures, languages, people, and systems of thought, all located within a structure where the power is vested with white race. Colonial rule in these countries transplanted European forms of thinking, language, culture—everything from food to sport—into a native ‘context.’” |
