If not for the pure luck that America had gotten in the way, Columbus would have been consigned to being just another obscure footnote in history. But without knowing it, Columbus was taking one of the first steps to a establishing a world dominated by Europeans, and later their biggest power – the United States.
It can be argued that in the years since, as a result of Columbus and others from the age of exploration, to the age of colonialism, to the 'global village' of today, that the world has been dominated by Europeans' and their descendants. That great journey of 'white men' who have surveyed, conquered, and vanquished the world for the past five hundred years is something I call "The Columbus Era".
It can be argued that that epic period of time is now coming to an end. Other powers, particularly in Asia are in the forefront, while economic power is now being dispersed around the globe.
The era of United States hegemony is coming to an end. Where do we go from here?
No comments:
Post a Comment