History The British Empire Questions
The concept of 'divide and rule' refers to a strategy employed by the British Empire to maintain control and dominance over its colonies. It involved creating divisions and conflicts among different ethnic, religious, or social groups within the colonies, in order to weaken their collective resistance and maintain British authority. By exploiting existing tensions or creating new ones, the British Empire could effectively control and manipulate the diverse populations under its rule. This strategy was used in various ways, such as favoring one group over another, implementing discriminatory policies, or creating separate administrative systems for different communities. Ultimately, 'divide and rule' allowed the British Empire to exert control and prevent unified resistance from the colonized populations.