|
Imperialism
occurs when a strong nation takes over a weaker nation or region
and dominates its economic, political, or cultural life.
Old Imperialism
Old Imperialism occurs in the 15th through 18th
centuries in Africa, India, the Americas,
and parts of Asia. The motives were the same for most
areas, the establishment of lucrative
trade routes.
Various European countries dominated these trades routes at one
time or another, and some countries, such as Great Britain and
Spain, came to dominate entire countries.
New
Imperialism
New Imperialism was practiced by European
nations and Japan throughout the 1800s and early 1900s.
In every case, a nation would experience
industrialization
prior to practicing imperialism on a foreign nation or
region. This is due to the nearly insatiable demand for
cheap
raw materials and the need for markets to buy
manufactured goods.
|
Causes of
Imperialism |
|
Economic Motives |
The
Industrial Revolution created an insatiable
demand for raw materials and new markets. |
|
Nationalism |
European nations wanted to demonstrate their
power and prestige to the world. |
|
Balance of Power |
European nations were forced to acquire
new
colonies to achieve a balance with their neighbors
and competitors. |
|
White Man's Burden |
The Europeans’ sense of superiority made
them feel obligated to “civilize the heathen savages”
they encountered. |
Results
 In the short-term, imperialism was a very profitable
foreign policy which came at the expense of the foreign
regions where it was being practiced.
Cultural diffusion
also occurred, leading to an exchange of ideas between
the West and the East. For example, European methods of
education were adopted, leading non-Europeans to study
ideas of liberty and democracy embraced during the
Enlightenment and various political revolutions. This
exchange eventually led to the demise of
imperialism and
colonialism throughout the world after
World War Two.
|
