Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly
the British were a brutal nation
There was much of looting those times.

Consider what British Empire created. US. NZ. Australia. Canada. Singapore, HK, the richest nations now on this planet. And accepted standard of democracy and rule of law. Free market economy.

And consider, in comparison, what French Empire left behind. Oppression and poverty, poorest countries in the world. Like Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia. Africa.

Descartes and de Gaulle are of no importance and have no say here, despite Descartes being intelligent guy.