unit 1

political imperialism

Another form of imperialism was political imperialism. Under political imperialism, the imperialist nation established a colony in a foreign territory. However, it did not take complete control of the colony. The colony had its own government staffed by local officials, but it had to follow the will of the imperialist nation. In this way, the imperialist nation maintained political control.

direct control

Colonial imperialism relied on direct control. The main purpose of direct control was to assimilate the colonial population into the imperialist nation. People living under colonial imperialism had no control over government or political matters. Instead, officials from the imperialist nation came in to govern the country. They often introduced European-style governmental institutions, such as parliaments and legal courts.

industrial revolution

Developments in technology led to a boom in the production of goods in the nineteenth century. European nations looked to Africa, South Asia, and the Americas for resources as well as new markets.

world war 1 begins

World War I was fought among European nations, But it had far-reaching effects by involving European colonies in the fight

social darwinism

A nineteenth-century theory called social Darwinism helped fuel New Industrialism: Around 1858, British naturalist Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution. He described how plant and animal species evolve over long periods of time through the process of natural selection. British biologist Herbert Spencer reinterpreted Darwin's ideas of evolution of species and applied them to human societies. This altered theory, called social Darwinism, claimed that people who had more wealth and power were biologically superior. Social Darwinism was used to justify the political as well as cultural domination of colonial populations by Europeans.

Berlin conference

After Leopold II's conquest of territories along the Congo River, many European powers raced to establish colonies across Africa. They held the Berlin Conference of 1884 to settle disputed claims and divide the African continent among themselves. The European powers broke up the African continent into 50 countries. They did so without giving Africans any representation at the conference.

spread of imperialism

As European nations rushed to colonize more territories, they were helped by a variety of factors. Europe had some advantages, while the regions of Africa and Asia had several weaknesses. Let's explore some of the factors that aided the spread of Western Imperialism across Asia and Africa.

justification for imperialism

As colonialism spread around the world, many Europeans developed a paternalistic attitude. This attitude helped justify the taking of foreign land and resources. Many Europeans believed that locals in Africa or Asia were incapable of efficiently managing a country. Therefore, they argued that it was the duty of an imperial nation to step in and take control of these regions.

age of exploration

At the end of the fifteenth century, Europeans began exploring territories in the Americas. These colonies provided Europe with goods and resources such as sugar, tobacco, and gold. Europeans also brought African slaves to the New World. The slave trade and the use of slave labor in their colonies generated great wealth for Europeans.

British establish complete rule of india

Britain had taken advantage of India's natural resources and markets for centuries. But in 1858, it brought India under complete British rule

european rule

By the 1870s, Europe had colonized most of the world. Britain had the largest empire, consisting of colonies in India, China, and Australia. Soon, European nations started colonizing Africa too. By 1917, almost the entire African continent was under European colonial rule. Let's take a closer look at the causes of New Imperialism.

advantages of european nations

European Imperialists had powerful and technologically advanced armies and navies. Advanced weaponry like the Maxim gun, which could quickly kill a lot of people, gave them a definite upper hand. The steam engine allowed Europeans to travel deep into Africa and Asia. It also enabled them to carry heavy ammunition and supplies for longer-lasting warfare Railroads and cables improved communication between the colony and the ruling nation. Medical advances helped to prevent death and disease among Westerners who traveled to Asia and Africa. The introduction of the medicine quinine allowed Europeans to better resist malaria. On the other hand, Africans died from many European diseases, such as smallpox, which they had no immunity to.

resisting imperialism

European imperialism did not go unchallenged. It faced opposition in the form of cultural, political, and armed resistance. To some extent, imperialism also faced criticism in Europe itself. Cultural resistance happened in response to the attempt by European missionaries to convert colonial populations to Christianity. Many colonial natives resisted Christianization by retaining and asserting their own religious traditions. Some colonies engaged in armed resistance to regain their freedom. In 1896, Ethiopia successfully resisted Italian imperialism by defeating Italian forces in a battle. In 1900, the Chinese led an uprising to resist European and Japanese influence. This uprising was known as the Boxer Rebellion.

new imperialism

European imperialism sped up in the nineteenth century as European nations rushed to colonize new resource-rich regions. One reason for this rush to expand empires in Europe was the booming Industrial Revolution. European imperialism sped up in the nineteenth century as European nations rushed to colonize new resource-rich regions. One reason for this rush to expand empires in Europe was the booming Industrial Revolution. European business was thriving because of the Industrial Revolution. Manufacturers needed natural resources on a large scale. They also needed to find new markets in which to sell their products. European nations intensified their search for new colonies to fulfill these economic needs. European imperialism sped up in the nineteenth century as European nations rushed to colonize new resource-rich regions. One reason for this rush to expand empires in Europe was the booming Industrial Revolution. European business was thriving because of the Industrial Revolution. Manufacturers needed natural resources on a large scale. They also needed to find new markets in which to sell their products. European nations intensified their search for new colonies to fulfill these economic needs. Most European empires had strong central governments that allowed them to fund and explore those new colonies. Europe also developed advanced military technology, as well as better transportation, such as the steamship. The telegraph made communication faster and easier. Such advances helped the Europeans build powerful armies to invade, conquer, and defend new territories.

old imperialism

European nations began exploring lands outside their own continent in the late fifteenth century. Soon after, they began occupying and settling this "New World" in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. They started by establishing trade routes to take natural resources from these territories. The resources helped the European powers expand their own systems of production and trade. Spain and Portugal occupied the largest areas in the Americas. They maintained colonies for many centuries. The colonies brought those nations great wealth and earned them a reputation as powerful imperialists. Old Imperialism was mostly limited to the Americas. During this time, European nations imported slaves from Africa and also engaged in trade with South Asia. However, they began colonizing these regions only in the nineteenth century. This era of imperialism is called New Imperialism. Let's see why colonialism surged in the nineteenth century.

the roots of european imperialism

Imperialism is the seizure of a country or territory by a more powerful country. Imperialism has existed since ancient times. Powerful countries or kingdoms have tried to take over regions that are less powerful. These regions are often rich in resources or have a strategic importance. European imperialism had its roots in the age of exploration, between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. During that time, European explorers discovered continents that were previously unknown to them. Let's look at how imperialism developed during the age of exploration

colonial imperialism

Imperialist nations gained varying degrees of control over regions they sought to exploit. As you've learned, they would treat these regions as colonies, protectorates, or spheres of influence. Different forms of imperialism emerged out of these relationships. The most direct and overpowering type of imperialism was colonial imperialism. Under colonial imperialism, the ruling nation would exploit the colony in every way to serve its own interests. It would seize control of the colony's economy as well as its governmental administration. It would also seek to impose its social and cultural traditions on the people living in its colonies.

sociocultural imperialism

Imperialist nations often believed that their own culture was superior to that of the people they had colonized. Therefore, they imposed Western customs, religions, and languages on those people. Many Europeans believed that in doing so, they were benefiting the less-developed regions. In British India, for example, Indians were required to adapt to British culture. Indian officials were taught English. Indian soldiers were required to wear Western uniforms. And Indian trading rules were replaced by a Western system.

Europe establishes spheres of influence in china

In 1898, European nations agreed to divide up China into regions under European control. Each region was known as a sphere of influence. It could trade only with the European nation controlling it.

in what three ways did the industrial revolution spur new imperialism

It created the need for natural resources to support manufacturing. It created the need to expand investment options for bankers and businesses. It created the need for new markets for European manufactured goods.

Humanitarian and religious goals

Many Westerners felt concern for people in other parts of the world. They wanted to help those they believed were less fortunate. Here are some examples: Some doctors and colonial officials wanted to help others through medicine, law, and other Western advancements. Christian missionaries believed it was their duty to spread Christianity to people in other parts of the world.

weaknesses of non western regions

Most regions of Africa could not compete with the European military because their weapons weren't as sophisticated. Blockades and other trade restrictions weakened some Asian governments, making them more susceptible to invasion. Africa was divided into hundreds of ethnic groups with over 1,000 languages. There were several empires and independent villages with large armies. However, there was little unity among the different groups. As a result, they often engaged in warfare with one another. The European nations exploited these rivalries to take over the region.

forms of imperial rule

New Imperialism took many forms as nations sought to exert their control on foreign regions. Let's look at the different relationships that formed between imperial nations and the territories they dominated. In many cases, European powers established colonies as a way to expand their empire. A colony is a region that is under total control by another country. European colonies had little to no economic or political freedom and were often completely dominated by the ruling country. In other cases, European nations took a more hands-off approach by establishing protectorates. A protectorate is an independent country that depends on another country for military protection. European protectorates were often allies of the imperial nation. Usually, they were small nations that traded goods for security. One example was the island of Barbados, which produced and sold sugar. It entered into a trade agreement with Britain for military protection.

political and military reasons

New Imperialism was also spurred by political and military needs: The new steam-powered military and trading ships needed access to ports for refueling and other supplies. By establishing colonies around the world, European nations sought to acquire access to strategic shipping routes. Having more colonies ensured better national security as well as greater power.

sphere of influence

Sometimes an imperial nation acquired control over portions of another nation. For example, in the early twentieth century, European nations divided China into several spheres of influence. Each nation had exclusive control over its own sphere of influence. A sphere of influence is not the same as a colony because the imperial nation has limited control over it. So, while European nations controlled China's most important ports, the nation was still being ruled by Chinese monarchs.

Europeans rush to colonize Africa

The colonization of Africa began in earnest when Belgium's King Leopold II acquired territories along the Congo Basin. Leopold brutally exploited the Congolese people and forced them into labor. This development led to a surge in European Imperialism in Africa.

colonial governing methods

The different forms of imperialism—colonial, political, economic, and socio-cultural—required different levels of imperial control. Such control ranged from direct to indirect. Let's look at some differences between direct and indirect imperial control.

economic interestspolitical and military re

There were many economic causes of New Imperialism: European manufacturers wanted access to natural resources such as rubber, petroleum, steel, and palm oil. These raw materials were used for the production of goods, building projects, and maintaining machinery. Manufacturers also needed new markets where they could sell their manufactured products. New colonies provided them with more places to sell their goods. Bankers and businesspeople sought new places to invest their profits from growing industries. The Industrial Revolution led to a population boom in Europe. European nations did not have enough jobs to support their growing workforce. To deal with this problem, Europe created employment opportunities in overseas colonies

economic imperialism

Under economic imperialism, the trade and commerce of an independent nation was controlled by an imperial nation. The non-imperial nation was not free to choose whom to trade with or how to use its own natural resources. One example was Britain's relationship with China in the early twentieth century. Britain used its military force to gain exclusive access to strategic trading ports in China.

indirect control

Under indirect control, a region was governed by local authorities. However, these local officials were controlled and supervised by imperialist officials. Political and economic imperialism relied on indirect control. A benefit of indirect control was that it allowed people from the local population to develop the skills to become future leaders. It also introduced European styles of governance in non-European regions. The British used indirect rule to administer regions in Nigeria, India, and Burma.