Imperialism

The World at a Glance

Objectives for the lecture

• At the end of this lecture students will understand 19th and early 20th century imperialism by analyzing the following:• The historical background.• How can it be explained?• Where did it occur?

WHAT WAS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Imperialism Defined

• Before explaining the historical background, we need a working definition

Imperialism Defined

• The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.

• (hegemony=authority, power, dominion)

Background

• Expansionism has occurred in at least 3 waves:• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery

that gave us heroes such as

Background

• Expansionism has occurred in at least 3 waves:• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery • Imperialism of the end of the late 19th

century that gave us

OR

Background

• Expansionism has occurred in at least 3 waves:• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery • Imperialism of the end of the late 19th

century• And our current state of affairs today

Background

• 1st phase- explorers, merchants, & priests traversed the globe

• Spain, Portugal, England, & France leading colonial powers

• European empires gone from America• Only GB retained American empire in

name

Background

• However, Europeans not determined to build empires

• Concern was commerce• Trade with natives

Background

• 19th Century – Europe focused energies on:

Background

• 19th Century – Europe focused energies on:• Nation-building

Background

• 19th Century – Europe focused energies on:• Nation-building• The Industrial Revolution

Background

• 19th Century – Europe focused energies on:• Nation-building• The Industrial Revolution• Conflict between liberalism and

conservatism• Colonialism was an afterthought

Background

• After 1870, the Western world expanded again

• Swooping down upon the globe and figuratively devouring it

• The West had to possess- trade agreements not enough

• Invested in colonies• Built RRs • Imposed European values

WHAT EXPLAINS THIS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED

DEVELOPMENT?

An explanation

• Economics figured prominently• Colonies promised:

• Inexpensive raw materials• Cheap labor• Guaranteed markets

• Political considerations• Christianity• Western perception of perceived

superiority

The Technological Imperative

• Regardless of the why, success rested on:• Technology and organizational

predominance• Efficient military formations• Modern rifles• Maxim (machine guns)

• Battle of Obderman, Sudan 1898 British slaughtered 11,000 tribesman

Global phenomenon

• Late 19th century imperialism was indeed global

• The Middle East• Black Africa (different from say South

Africa)• But Asia was the prize, certainly for

America

Three most important Asian countrieswere:

Three most important Asian countrieswere:

Three most important Asian countrieswere:

Japan

• Until 1853, Japan lived in isolation• Commodore Matthew Perry changed

that – Gunboat Diplomacy• Japan had a revolution in 1867• Adopted western technology an

practices yet attempted to maintain their tradition