how did early european empires effect indigenous populations in their colonies?

Question

e.g. British in India, Spanish in Mexico etc

portuguese in brazil
french in canada
dutch in indonesia
(a few more examples)
thanks so far!

Answer 1

The British empire was certainly built upon colonialism and racial/class separation tactics. In India this was especially true as it was a valuable asset to Queen Victoria. The empire was forced to grant independence because the Indie/Muslim peoples after not winning through armed insurrection won through the pacifism of Gandhi and Nehru and the fact this was certainly a tactic the British was unprepared for and was a terrible blemish upon the British image. This independence of course led to the break-up of India into two separate countries today known as India and Pakistan.
The Spanish im Mexico subjugated the Indian/Mayan tribes left over from the Empires of the Toltec, Olmec and Aztec empires and the peasant peoples to Catholicism and they were forced to convert metals, deny their language and customs to help the Spanish forge a new empire in the new world. Who was the worse? Well historically both left residues for these indigenous peoples to deal with.

Answer 2

It depended on the empire.

The British generally built the indigenous people up. Look at modern India, it is the product of British teaching and construction.

Meanwhile the Spanish wiped many of the people in their empire out. They persecuted people and tortured them. Look at the nations that were part of the Spanish empire as opposed to the British. There is a large and noticeable difference in standards of living.

Answer 3

The British also came into Ireland and that didnt work out well did it? So what Yun said about the Spanish persecuting and torturing people can also be said to have applied to what the British did to the Irish.