This document discusses European imperialism from the 15th to early 20th centuries. It defines imperialism as the extension of rule or influence by one nation over another. Major motivations for European imperialism included nationalism, economic incentives like trade and resource extraction, and social justifications like the belief in European racial and cultural superiority. The document outlines different forms of colonial control employed by Europeans, patterns of colonial management, resistance movements against imperialism, negative consequences like loss of native independence and culture, and some potential "positive" consequences like reduced local warfare and infrastructure development.

1. European Imperialism

2. Imperialism defined:
The extension of rule or influence by
one government, nation, or society
over another.

3. crap
Darth VaderImperial Officer
Storm TrooperStorm Trooper

4. Established,
Old World
Nations
Old World
Military
Power and
Technology
Old World
Military
Power and
Technology
Less Developed Nations
(Africa, New World,
India, Pacific Islands)
crap

5. Imperialism: Subtypes
Sociologist Lewis Samuel Feuer identifies two major
subtypes of imperialism:
Regressive Imperialism – Identified by pure
conquest, total exploitation, extermination or
reductions of undesired peoples, and settlement of
desired peoples (colonization) into those territories
Progressive Imperialism – Promotes the spread of
civilization to allegedly "backward" societies to
elevate living standards and culture in conquered
territories; allows conquered people to assimilate
(blend into) into the imperial society

6. Major Political,
Economic and Social
Motivations that
Influenced European
Imperialism

7. Political Motivation
Nationalism – An extreme form of patriotism, marked by a
feeling of superiority over other countries
Nationalism leads to a desire for overseas
colonies: The thought process among European
nations was basically that the more territory
your country controlled abroad, the more
prestigious it was to be a citizen of that
country.

8. Political Motivation
Berlin Conference (1884-85) – A series of meetings
held in Berlin, Germany among European leaders;
regulated European colonization and trade in Africa by
dividing the continent between 14 European nations.
The conference formalized the “Scramble for Africa”
The Scramble for Africa – a process of invasion,
occupation, colonization and annexation
of African territory by European powers between 1881
and World War I in 1914. Europeans tried to justify
their actions as “eliminating the threat of a Europe-
wide war over Africa.”

10. Economic Motivation
The Triangle Trade and the later
Industrial Revolution led to a search for new
markets and raw materials; rubber, palm oil
and cocoa become cash crops in European
colonies.
Mining in diamonds, copper, gold, silver and
tin from overseas colonies provided Europeans
with great wealth and greater incentive to
maintain control there.

11. Potosi (Cerro Rico or “Rich Mountain”) is also
known as “The Mountain That Eats Men Alive.”
It has been estimated that during the three
centuries of Spanish rule in South America (1545
to 1825) as many as eight million Natives and
Africans died in and around the Silver mines.

13. Economic Motivation
Spanish Pieces of Eight (the
Spanish dollar) were gold and
silver coins mined and minted in
the former Inca Empire and
became the first worldwide
currency
The mint mark for the Potosi
Mines in present-day Bolivia is
also thought to be the origin of
the dollar sign.

15. Social Motivation
• Advancements in technology led Europeans to
develop racist attitudes as felt they were superior
to others. (Europeans saw indigenous Africans
and New World natives the same way)
• White Man’s Burden – It was believed that it
was the responsibility of Europeans to “civilize”
non-Westerners.
“the rich (whites) have a moral duty and obligation to help ‘the poor’ (coloreds)
‘better’ themselves whether the poor (coloreds) want the help or not.”
• Christian missionaries wanted to “civilize” non-
westerners by forcing them to adopt their
religions.

17. Major Characteristics
of European
Imperialism

18. Characteristics
Forms of Colonial Control
Colony – Governed internally by a foreign
power
-- Most government officials are brought in from the
outside (Colonial governors, magistrates, etc.)
Protectorate – a country with its own internal
government, but is controlled by an outside
power
-- The Greeks, Romans and Mongols all used this
approach in ancient times and collected tribute from
these leaders as a result

19. Characteristics
Forms of Colonial Control
Sphere of Influence – an area claimed by an
outside power for exclusive investment and trading
-- Mercantilism is an example; trade only occurs with the
Mother Country (the country that set up the colony)
Economic Imperialism – Independent countries
controlled by private interests
-- The Dole Fruit Co. in Hawaii benefitted greatly from
the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii; the takeover
was motivated by companies seeking to avoid high
tariffs on Hawaiian goods

20. The Sun Never Sets on The British Empire – 1919

22. European Imperialism
Patterns of
Management

23. Imperial Patterns of Management
Indirect Control – Local government officials have
limited self-rule, but laws are based on European
styles and rules
-- The British ruled its African and Indian colonies in this manner;
colonies are basically protectorates; distance from the Mother Country is
a factor as well
Direct Control – Exclusive use of foreign officials with
no self-rule; Laws based only on European law;
policies of assimilation (adopting the Mother
Country’s culture) used to absorb local population
into European culture
-- The British attempted – unsuccessfully – to rule Northern Ireland in
this manner since they were nearby

24. Resistance Movements
against
European Imperialism

25. Resistance Movements
Zulu Wars in South Africa (1879) – The British
initiated and won a brief war against the Zulu Tribe;
enacted indirect rule afterward
Algerian Resistance Movement (1954-1962) – The
French win a military victory, but Algerians gain
independence
Sepoy Rebellion in India (1857) – Sepoys (Indian
soldiers) employed by the British East India Company
rebel over religious issues; The British win a military
victory and enact direct rule for the next 89 years

26. Resistance Movements
Ho Chi Minh in French Indochina (1946-1954) –
France, weakened by World War II, cannot contain a
rebellion led by Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia all gain independence. Vietnam was split
into North and South; sets stage for Vietnam War
Emilio Aguinaldo in the Philippines – Aguinaldo led a
successful revolt against the Spanish (1896-1898) and
a failed revolt against the U.S. (1899-1902). The U.S.
controls the Philippines until 1946.

27. Negative
Consequences of
European
Imperialism

28. Negative Consequences
Native people lose control of their lands and
independence – In every case (America, Africa,
India, etc.) the indigenous population is brushed
aside by superior military technology and
organization
New diseases like smallpox reduce native
populations – Disease was an even bigger
factor than military technology in the Native
American loss of the New World

29. Negative Consequences
Resistance movements, famines resulting from
shifts to cash crop production and harsh
working conditions also reduce native
populations – The devastation of the indigenous
population caused by the Spanish conquest of
the New World is one of history’s best examples
Problem of identity as Westerners view native
cultures with contempt – Racism results as
natives are seen as savage, uncivilized and
uneducated by Europeans

30. Negative Consequences
Areas stripped of natural resources – The
Belgians, for example, stripped The Congo of
copper, rubber and uranium while keeping the
native population fighting against one another
Artificial boundaries either combine rival
groups or divide kinship groups that create
political problems in the former colonies –
Divisions created in Africa within the native
populations still have a negative impact on the
continent today (civil wars, tribal wars, etc.)

31. “Positive”
Consequences of
European
Imperialism

32. “Positive” Consequences
European military presence reduces local
warfare – Rivalries among native groups are
controlled by the Mother Country’s military
(conflict is bad for business)
Humanitarian efforts improve sanitation and
education that leads to growth in life
expectancy and literacy – Technology from the
Mother Country leads to life improvements
among the native population

33. “Positive” Consequences
Colonial land equipped with infrastructure to
aid economic growth – More technology from
the Mother Country results in improvements of
basic physical systems, including roads, utilities,
water, sewage, etc.
Products from colonies valued in the
international market – The economic future of
the colony improves, but the colony doesn’t
really benefit because it’s not independent