2) Started a system of global resource extraction and slavery
3) Built an entire system of economic development based on this extraction which vastly enriched said Europeans and disadvantaged the colonised peoples
4) Deliberately nobbled attempts by those from which the wealth is being extracted to share in the economic gains through shady business, military and political tactics
5) Refusal to acknowledge the role of that extraction in their continued success (those [INSERT PEJORATIVE NAME FOR THE COLONISED HERE] just need to do better!)
I mean, I don't know if it's unique in all history but it's certainly unique when comparing local conflict pre-colonisation with European colonisation.
1) Colonised the globe
2) Started a system of global resource extraction and slavery
3) Built an entire system of economic development based on this extraction which vastly enriched said Europeans and disadvantaged the colonised peoples
4) Deliberately nobbled attempts by those from which the wealth is being extracted to share in the economic gains through shady business, military and political tactics
5) Refusal to acknowledge the role of that extraction in their continued success (those [INSERT PEJORATIVE NAME FOR THE COLONISED HERE] just need to do better!)
I mean, I don't know if it's unique in all history but it's certainly unique when comparing local conflict pre-colonisation with European colonisation.