How did missionary work represent an extension of European colonialism in the nineteenth century?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. As part of the "white man's burden" described by Kipling, many Europeans felt themselves superior in all ways to the native populations in Africa and Asia, which were the two major regions targeted in this time period. Although economic trade was facilitated, Europeans often endorsed Christian missionaries' entrance into these regions for some local assistance in maintaining the European presence. For example, France got its start in Indochina by providing support to Christian missionaries before it ever really had a large colonial presence. Napoleon III's treaty with local rulers allowed for exploration in the area and expansion of already existing but limited trade. Livingstone's presence in Africa was seen as a nationalist achievement for Britain, albeit separate from their economic interests in the region. In China as well as Japan, Christian missionaries had been a factor in foreign diplomacy for several hundred years (with Japan expelling all Christians and closing the door to Western influences much earlier). In China, missionaries followed their traditional patterns of establishing schools and health clinics, goals that were deemed admirable. There was a point of conflict, however, as Western religious ideals clashed with Chinese ancestor worship, and in 1870, local concerns about the influences of Christianity erupted into the Tianjin massacre of Christians. However, this event did not significantly reduce missionary work.