Jake, please don’t tell me you’re seriously going to spend your life savings on a microscopic apartment in NY.
Um...
I can.
Oh, I know that look. You're serious.
—waking up to the view of the empire state building! Did you know New York was once called the “empire state”? I’ll be living in a city full of great history!
It’s the melting pot of creativity! The cultural hub of the country! Tell me you can’t resist—
Jake, you wouldn't be so excited if you know the truth about empires. Have you ever heard of the Numantians? Numantia was a mountain town that threatened Rome's control of the Mediterraneanbasin. To maintain their empire, the Romans encircled the Numantians and cut off their supplies. People starved. After a year, the Numantians burned down their town and most killed themselves to avoid becoming slaves. Empires just mean a lot of slaughter and fear.
Scipio, I am giving you thirty thousand of our soldiers. Get rid of those Numantians!
Yes, Sir.
And wasn't France an empire?
The empire state building's beautiful architectural design is Art Deco, which originated from France.
Exactly. And in many empires, imperial elitists used profits from conquering lands to fund humanity's many achievements in art, philosophy, and more.
Even the Taj Mahal was built thanks to empires.
True. But even when Indians tried to adapt to the British empire, they had a hard time being accepted as Western people. Empires simply group the conquered together and over time, unique ethnicities and cultures are lost.
But after the British conquered India, India became united. The British also laid the foundation for India's first judicial system and build railroads. That was important for India's economy.
—and I forgot to mention that empires usually stable. It's so much easier to stop rebellions.
Maybe you have a point...
Which arguments support and refute that claim that empires are evil?