Define ‘Green Imperialism’. Assess the role of European colonialism towards Green Imperialism.

 Green Imperialism:

Green imperialism provides critical perspective on how human-made environmental transformations reproduce social differences including class, gender, caste, ethnicity and nationality. German scientist Ernst Haeckel first used the term 'ecology' (oecologie) in 1866 to refer to "science of relations of living organisms to external world, their habitat, customs, energies, parasites etc.". The subject 'ecology' helps us to understand complex relationship between living beings and their surrounding environment. From 1970s environmental historians began to consider climate, topography, animals, insects, soil and vegetation as crucial factors in shaping society and economy. This was a major departure from excessive focus on political events as key factors in shaping history.

Understanding complex history of ecological imperialism is crucial when the world is entering a phase of intensified contests over natural resources water bodies, forests, hills, mineral resources and fertile soil. In contemporary context capitalist countries dominate natural resources of the world exclusively for their benefits. Unequal distribution of natural wealth repoduces social inequalities based on class, nationality, ethnicity and gender. Thus, providing a historical perspective on ecological imperialism is important to develop a critical perspective on contemporary society, especially when we face climate change as a major issue.

Role of European colonialism towards Green Imperialism:

European colonial expansion to Asia, Australia and America initiated by great European sailors in 15th century was a turning point in history of capitalism and modern imperialism. In 1487 Bartolomeu Dias ventured a long sail to southern tip of Africa, opening possibilities to enter Indian Ocean. Christopher Columbus travelled west and touched West Indies in 1492. Vasco da Gama started his voyage from Lisbon to Asia and reached ancient port town of Calicut in Kerala in 1498. Magellan reached Philippines in search of spices. These visits produced enormous body of knowledge about sea routes, winds and opportunities to accumulate wealth.

European visitors to New Zealand or New England and Austria in 15th and 16th centuries found natural goods that were scarce in Europe. After initial phase of confining to coastal belt, ships from Europe started transporting farmers to New World to expand cultivation of wheat and other food crops. For them natural riches of New World they discovered were marketable commodities. White settlers considered indigenous people as potential cheap labourers. European intelligentsia supported white settlers' view by considering indigenous people as people without history. By middle of 16th century mercantile companies supported by Portuguese, Dutch and British governments established their trading posts along coasts of Indian Ocean, Atlantic and Pacific.

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