OER1001/regional-relations-in-asia-and-the-pacific/1/4/european contact

Early views on the Asia-Pacific region In the 18th and 19th centuries, a number of factors influenced how Europeans viewed the Asia-Pacific region.

The Europeans had diverse views on the landscape and people living in the Asia-Pacific. While these views influenced how Europeans approached the region, many of them has their roots in the early works by the geographer Ptolemy, reflecting that they pre-dated the 18th and 19th centuries period.

Ptolemy was instrumental in introducing the notion of Asia and the Pacific being a fantastic and exotic location, rather than viewing it as an equal region to his own. This led to the Asia-Pacific region being encompassed by romanticised views, including later notions espousing the 'noble savage' concept.

The underlying value positions that reinforced the pattern of European interaction in Asia and the Pacific have included primitivism, progressivism, Christianity, geographic determinism and finally, scientific empiricism. Again, like Ptolemy's (and others') views of the region, these value positions served to reinforce notions of Asia and the Pacific not being equal to Europe and European powers. This led to very destructive forms of colonialism and European imperialism to dominate the interactions of the Europeans with many of the peoples, societies and states that comprise the region.

Some of these value positions still sometimes influence, to varying degrees, contemporary interactions in the region. Therefore, it is important that we identify, examine and evaluate the perceptions held by Europeans in the region, in both historical and contemporary times.

Activity

Please google the following terms and make a note of what you find:
 * primitivism
 * progressivism
 * Evangelical Christianity
 * geographic determinism
 * scientific empiricism

The image on this page is a photograph of a modern reconstruction of a Dutch East India ship. This original of this ship was part of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) fleet. The VOC was the world’s first multi-national corporation and they set about to colonise much of Asia during the height of their power.