what was generally the preferred way for european powers to control colonial regions
Indirect rule
title: European colonialism text: European colonialism European colonialism refers to the worldwide colonial expansion of European countries, which began in the early modern period, c. 1500. Following up on the various medieval European colonising crusades in the Levant and in the Baltic region, states such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, Italy and France established colonial spheres of influence, most notably in Africa, India, Southeast Asia and the Americas. Some commentators identify three waves of European colonialism. The three main countries in the first wave of European colonialism were the early Ottoman Empire, Spain and Portugal. .The Portuguese started the long age of European title: Western European colonialism and colonization text: to allow natives to govern their own affairs through “customary law.” In practice though, the native authority decided on and enforced its own unwritten rules with the support of the colonial government. Rather than following the rule of law, local chiefs enjoyed judicial, legislative, executive, and administrative power in addition to legal arbitrariness. In systems of direct rule, Europeans colonial officials oversaw all aspects of governance, while natives were placed in an entirely subordinate role. Unlike indirect rule, the colonial government did not convey orders through local elites, but rather oversaw administration directly. European laws and customs were imported to title: Western European colonialism and colonization text: drawn from the existing social hierarchy or were newly minted by the colonial authority. In areas under indirect rule, traditional authorities acted as intermediaries for the “despotic” colonial rule, while the colonial government acted as an advisor and only interfered in extreme circumstances. Often, with the support of the colonial authority, natives gained more power under indirect colonial rule than they had in the pre-colonial period. Mamdani points out that indirect rule was the dominant form of colonialism and therefore most who were colonized bore colonial rule that was delivered by their fellow natives. The purpose of indirect rule was title: European colonialism text: and the Russian Far East) Central Asia and Australia. European colonialism European colonialism refers to the worldwide colonial expansion of European countries, which began in the early modern period, c. 1500. Following up on the various medieval European colonising crusades in the Levant and in the Baltic region, states such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, Italy and France established colonial spheres of influence, most notably in Africa, India, Southeast Asia and the Americas. Some commentators identify three waves of European colonialism. The three main countries in the first wave of European colonialism were the early Ottoman Empire, Spain and title: Indirect rule text: colonies, the laws were typically made by a British Governor and legislative council, but in the protectorates and princely states local rulers retained their traditional administrative authority and ability to legislate, subject to British control of certain areas. Indirect rule was particularly effective in enabling the British to exploit natural resources and raw materials of vast subordinate nations. The establishment of naval and military bases in strategic points around the globe maintained the necessary power to underpin such control. Indirect rule was cheaper and easier for the European powers, and in particular it required fewer administrators, but it did have