Colonial education played a dual role: a tool for cultural assimilation and a catalyst for resistance. On one hand, European powers introduced their curricula, languages, and historical perspectives in schools, aiming to mould a class of indigenous elites that would be loyal to the colonial administration. This educational system often downplayed or even distorted local histories and cultures, promoting European superiority. On the other hand, exposure to European ideas, especially those of liberty, equality, and fraternity, inspired many colonial subjects to challenge the very basis of colonial rule. Many anti-colonial movements had leaders educated in European institutions who turned the ideals they had learnt against their colonisers.

The infrastructures set up during colonial rule, including railways, ports, roads, and communication networks, had a lasting impact on post-colonial nations. While these infrastructures facilitated resource extraction and controlled movement, they also became the backbone of many post-colonial economies. Many post-colonial nations inherited a lopsided infrastructure focused on resource-rich areas with direct links to ports, often neglecting interconnectivity within the country. This often perpetuated regional imbalances and economic inequalities. However, these infrastructures also played a role in fostering national unity, facilitating movement, and becoming symbols of modernity and progress for many new nations.

While the overarching narrative of colonialism emphasises exploitation and suppression, there were instances where certain indigenous groups or individuals benefited, albeit often temporarily. Some local elites collaborated with colonial powers and, in return, were granted privileges, including land, titles, or administrative roles. The introduction of Western medical practices, education systems, and infrastructures, in some cases, improved living standards. However, it's crucial to note that these 'benefits' often came at the expense of broader exploitation, loss of self-determination, and cultural erosion. Moreover, any advancements should be weighed against the backdrop of what development might have occurred in the absence of colonial intervention.

Many borders in the post-colonial world, especially in Africa and the Middle East, were drawn arbitrarily by colonial powers, often splitting ethnic groups or lumping historically rival groups together. Post-independence, these borders frequently became flashpoints of conflict. The lack of historical or cultural consideration in demarcation has contributed to civil wars, territorial disputes, and ethnic tensions. For instance, the Hutu-Tutsi conflict in Rwanda, the Kurd's territorial ambitions across multiple nations in the Middle East, and numerous border disputes in post-colonial Africa can be traced back, at least in part, to these arbitrarily drawn colonial-era borders.

Mercantilism, a dominant economic philosophy between the 16th and 18th centuries, posited that a nation's wealth and power were best served by maintaining a positive trade balance, maximising exports, and minimising imports. Colonies were seen as crucial in this paradigm. They provided raw materials to the mother country, which were then manufactured into goods and often sold back to the colonies. This ensured that colonies usually maintained a trade deficit with their colonisers. European powers often implemented protectionist policies to ensure that colonies couldn't produce finished goods, making them reliant on European imports. This economic dependency was a key characteristic of many colonial relationships.