erase means eliminate the continuing effects or traces of something.

You could also say:

eliminate;

remove;

eradicate;

undo.

But they have slightly different strengths.

Eliminate means remove.

Eradicate means remove completely.

Erase means remove the continuing imprint or effect.

For historical writing, I actually prefer “eliminate” or “erase the legacies” rather than “eradicate,” unless the source itself uses very strong language.