The effects of colonialism on cultures and economies of colonized territories were enormous and long-term as, in most cases, they destroyed traditional orders and recreated societies in order to benefit the needs of the colonizers.
In terms of culture, the colonialists ensured that their languages and religions, as well as education systems were imposed at the detriment of the locals and their cultures. The native languages were discouraged or treated as inferior and the European culture was encouraged as the best. Christianity was spread through missionary work which in some cases undermined the indigenous belief systems. Colonial education emphasized European history and ideals and created a group of locals, who were more colonial-oriented than nation-oriented.
In terms of economics, colonialism restructured the local economies to serve the imperial countries. The colonies served as the sources of raw materials and markets of finished goods. Colonies were tied to world markets as traditional agriculture was commonly displaced by cash crops such as cotton, tea, and rubber. Industrial development was crippled with locally manufactured goods being pushed out of the market by imported goods.
Even labor systems were exploited. In most of the areas, they introduced forced labor or a system of exploitative wages, and they displaced the land belonging to the natives. The development of infrastructure such as railways and ports was also created to extract and export resources rather than to cater to the needs locally.
Although it is true that colonialism brought modern institutions and infrastructure in certain places, they were usually made to reinforce colonialism and not the empowerment of the locals.
Simply, colonialism interfered with local cultures, reorganized the economies to favour foreign interest and created a history of inequality and underdevelopment that several countries that were once colonized still struggle with presently.
