I believe history firmly shows that we (Humanity) do not learn from our mistakes. Sure, we’d like to think that with every mistake we learn a lesson that helps humanity move forward two steps toward a better world for all. However, history shows that is not the case. In fact, the only thing humanity seems to learn from our past mistakes is how to reach our twisted goals with greater ease. We learned how to dominate, through imperialism, in a much more efficient manner. Our mistakes have made us masters in the art of breaking the spirits of conquered people and cause bitter infighting. Humanity is now a certified expert in using religion, cloaked in ideology, as an excuse to murder without guilt.
Imperialism – the policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically and socially-, for example, is one of the greatest mistakes that history seems doomed to repeat. Why? Because in history although the short-term gains are very lucrative for the individual countries involved. In the long term the total cost to humanity as a whole is staggering. It is a fundamental factor in setting the stage for war. Take for instance the quest for colonies in Africa and Asia and the great wealth they promised the countries that controlled them that helped pushed European countries to war in the WW1. Their sense of rivalry and distrust fueled by each nations greed to expand and dominate as much as possible. ( Beck et al 841, ). The Europeans expanded their empire into the Muslims states. The Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Russia fought bitterly in the Crimean War and all suffered mass casualties because of this. Britain and Russia engaged in a bloody geo political struggle for land in Central Asia called the “Great Game”. (Beck et al 776-78) Even the Dutch, who themselves, were occupied under Spanish imperialism and waged a fierce battle for freedom. (Beck et al 592) Only to turn around and occupy
Bibliography: 1. Beck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia I.