Empires and Exploitation: Imperialism & Colonialism
Imperialism and Colonialism studies the expansion of European powers and their establishment of colonies across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, primarily from the 16th to 20th centuries. It examines the motives behind imperialism, the establishment of colonial systems, and their profound impacts on indigenous societies, economies, and global power dynamics, often at great human cost.
Timeline of Imperialism & Colonialism
This section outlines the key phases of European imperialism and colonialism. Here’s the breakdown:
- Early Colonial Expansion (1500s-1700s): Initial European colonization in the Americas and Asia.
- Height of Imperialism (1800s): Rapid expansion into Africa and Asia during the “Scramble for Africa.”
- Colonial Administration (1800s-1900s): Systems of control and exploitation in colonies.
- Impact and Resistance (1800s-1900s): Effects on indigenous peoples and movements for independence.
Key Figures and Events
This section highlights the main individuals and pivotal moments that shaped this era:
- Cecil Rhodes (1880s-1890s): British imperialist, expanded control in southern Africa.
- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.
- Queen Victoria (1837-1901): Oversaw the peak of the British Empire, including India’s colonization.
- Berlin Conference (1884-1885): European powers divided Africa, formalizing the “Scramble for Africa.”
- Opium Wars (1839-1860): Britain forced trade on China, leading to Hong Kong’s cession.
- Sepoy Mutiny (1857): Indian rebellion against British rule, leading to direct British control.
Examples of Imperialism & Colonialism
Early Colonial Expansion (1500s-1700s) Examples
- Spain colonized much of the Americas, extracting silver from Potosí mines in Bolivia.
- The British East India Company began trading in India by 1600, later gaining political control.
- The Dutch established the Cape Colony in South Africa in 1652, displacing the Khoikhoi.
Height of Imperialism (1800s) Examples
- France colonized Algeria in 1830, leading to decades of resistance from locals.
- Belgium’s King Leopold II controlled the Congo Free State, exploiting rubber and causing millions of deaths.
- Britain and France divided the Middle East after the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement.
Colonial Administration (1800s-1900s) Examples
- The British Raj in India imposed English education and built railways for resource extraction.
- French Indochina, including Vietnam, was governed through a mix of direct and indirect rule.
- In Kenya, British settlers took fertile lands, forcing the Kikuyu into labor on plantations.
Impact and Resistance (1800s-1900s) Examples
- The Zulu resisted British expansion in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, winning at Isandlwana.
- The Boxer Rebellion in China (1899-1901) opposed foreign influence, targeting missionaries.
- Colonial economies shifted to cash crops, like rubber in Malaya, disrupting local food production.