Summary of imperialism:
It is an unequal human and territorial relationship, usually in the form of an empire, based on ideas of superiority and practices of dominance, and involving the extension of authority and control of one state or people over another.
Age of Imperialism:
-The Age of Imperialism was a time period beginning around 1700 when modern, relatively developed nations were taking over less developed areas, colonizing them, or influencing them in order to expand their own power.
-Europe’s expansion into territorial imperialism had much to do with the great economic benefit from collecting resources from colonies, in combination with assuming political control often by military means.
- Most notably, the “British exploited the political weakness of the Maugham state, and, while military activity was important at various times, the economic and administrative incorporation of local elites was also of crucial significance”.
- The second expansion of Europe was a complex historical process in which political, social and emotional forces in Europe and on the periphery were more influential than calculated imperialism.
-Europe’s expansion into territorial imperialism had much to do with the great economic benefit from collecting resources from colonies, in combination with assuming political control often by military means.
- Most notably, the “British exploited the political weakness of the Maugham state, and, while military activity was important at various times, the economic and administrative incorporation of local elites was also of crucial significance”.
- The second expansion of Europe was a complex historical process in which political, social and emotional forces in Europe and on the periphery were more influential than calculated imperialism.
China during imperialism:
-By 1800, China was a prosperous country with a highly developed agricultural system. China was not industrialized, but workers in small workshops were able to produce most of the goods the Chinese needed. Because China was practically self-sufficient, its emperors had little interest in trading with Europeans. For decades, Europeans could do business only at the port of Canton. Despite pleas from Britain and other nations, China refused to open other ports to foreigners. The Chinese regarded European goods as inferior to their own and bought few goods from the European merchants at Canton.
-European merchants were determined to find a product the Chinese would buy in large quantities. Eventually, the British East India company discovered such a product - opium. Opium is a habit forming narcotic made from the poppy plant. The Chinese government tried to stop the opium trade by appealing to British royalty. When those pleas went unanswered, the quarrel over opium grew into a war.
-The Opium War and the peace that followed led to increased trading rights for Europeans in China. For a time it looked as though a scramble for China might follow the one for Africa.
-European merchants were determined to find a product the Chinese would buy in large quantities. Eventually, the British East India company discovered such a product - opium. Opium is a habit forming narcotic made from the poppy plant. The Chinese government tried to stop the opium trade by appealing to British royalty. When those pleas went unanswered, the quarrel over opium grew into a war.
-The Opium War and the peace that followed led to increased trading rights for Europeans in China. For a time it looked as though a scramble for China might follow the one for Africa.
Africa during Imperialism:
-The Scramble for Africa was the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during the New Imperialism period between 1881 and 1914.
- The Berlin Conference of 1884, which regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, is often cited as a convenient starting point.
-Consequent to the political and economic rivalries among the European empires, in the last quarter of the 19th century, the partitioning of Africa was how the Europeans avoided warring among-st themselves over Africa.
- The Berlin Conference of 1884, which regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, is often cited as a convenient starting point.
-Consequent to the political and economic rivalries among the European empires, in the last quarter of the 19th century, the partitioning of Africa was how the Europeans avoided warring among-st themselves over Africa.
Europe during imperialism:
- England was the leading European colonial power and had already established much of its overseas empire by the beginning of the 19th century.
- France was second, with its holdings in Southeast Asia and in North Africa, both
- Portugal, Spain and Holland retained some colonies because they had been
- Germany and Italy were late arrivals on the colonial scene because they
Great Britain During Imperialism:
- Britain had a lot to do with India during imperialism.
- Britain used India as a trade route.
- Also India worked with Britain to make railroads all through out India.-Over time the British East India Company was able to establish exclusive control over India and prevent boats from other trading companies from docking.
- The East India Company did this by concentrating their trade and security almost entirely with India leaving other areas of East and Southeast Asia to be controlled by other countries' companies. As the British East India Company gained more trade control over India, it also assumed military and administrative control.
- At its height, the Company controlled more land than the British government and was able to institute laws in those areas that would benefit the Company and extract profit.
- The British were a trading presence at certain points along the coast.
- East India Company Dominates Officially, the British government regulated the East India Company’s efforts both in London and in India.
- The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power.
- By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time. The empire covered more than 33,700,000 km, almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area.
4 different types of imperialism's that you should know:
- Colonial imperialism - This form of imperialism is virtual complete takeover of an area, with domination in all areas: economic, political, and socio-cultural. The subjugated area existed to benefit the imperialist power, and had almost no independence of action. In this era, almost all of Africa and southern and southeast Asia were colonized.
- Economic imperialism - This form of imperialism allowed the area to operate as its own nation, but the imperialist nation almost completely controlled its trade and other business. For example, it may impose regulations that forbid trade with other nations, or imperialist companies may own or have exclusive rights to its natural resources. During this era, China and most of Latin America were subjected to economic imperialism.
- Political imperialism - Although a country may have had its own government with natives in top political positions, it operated as the imperialist country told it to. The government was sometimes a relatively permanent "puppet government," as happened in late Qing China, and other times the control was temporary, as occurred in the Dominican Republic when the United States ran its government until it got out of debt.
- Socio-cultural imperialism - The dominating country deliberately tried to change customs, religions and languages in some of the countries. A good example was British India, where English was taught in schools, Indian soldiers dressed British-style, and western trading rules were set up. Generally, the imperialist countries assumed their cultures to be superior, and often times they saw themselves as bringing about improvements in the society.