This document provides an introduction to imperialism, including its definition and different types. Imperialism is when a powerful nation dominates other countries politically, economically, or socially. There are four main types of imperialism discussed: colonies, protectorates, spheres of influence, and economic imperialism. The document then examines potential motives for why nations practice imperialism, such as exploratory, political, ideological, religious, and economic goals. Nations may seek to map new territories, control other governments, civilize foreign populations, convert people to their religion, or gain access to raw materials and trade.

1. Introduction to
Imperialism
WHAT IS
IMPERIALISM & WHY
DO NATIONS DO IT?

2. What is imperialism?
Imperialism is a policy in
which a strong nation seeks
to dominate other countries
politically, economically, or
socially.

3. Types of Imperialism
1. Colony: A country or a
region governed internally
by a foreign power
Example: Somaliland in
East Africa was a French
colony

4. Types of Imperialism
2. Protectorate: A country or
territory with its own internal
government but under the
control of an outside power
Example: Britain
established a protectorate
over the Niger River Delta

5. Types of Imperialism
3. Sphere of Influence: An area
in which an outside power
claims exclusive investment or
trading privileges
Example: Liberia was under
the sphere of influence of the
United States

6. Types of Imperialism
4. Economic Imperialism:
Independent but less developed
nations controlled by private
business interests rather than by
other governments.
Example: The Dole Fruit
company controlled pineapple trade
in Hawaii

7. Thought Question-Answer on Note
Sheet
WHAT THINGS MIGHT
MAKE A PERSON OR
GROUP WANT TO TAKE
CONTROL OF OTHERS?

8. Motives for Imperialism
EmPIRE

9. Exploratory
GOALS:
-map new territory
-to locate indigenous (native) people
-to identify natural resources
available (i.e.
animals, plants, coal, etc)

10. Exploratory
(interest in
unexplored
territories,
mapping
geographic
features of
Africa)
Sketch map of Central African,
showing Dr. Livingstone’s
exploration

11. POLITICAL
GOALS:
-to claim land for the “mother country”
-to make sure their country had more
resources than other countries
(competition)
-to control another country’s
government

12. POLITICAL
(desire to control
African territory,
desire to boost
national pride and
gain power by
winning colonies,
desire to have
military presence)
or
EXPLORATORY
(exploring or
venturing into
unknown
territory)
British cartoon “The Rhodes
Colossus” showing Cecil
Rhodes’ vision of making
Africa “all British from Cape to
Cairo” 1892

13. IDEOLOGICAL
GOALS:
-to “improve” non –Europeans’ way of
life
-to make others more like Europeans
-to make them adopt a European
perspective
Racism: the idea that one race is
superior to others

14. Social Darwinism
-Came from Charles Darwin’s ideas on
evolution & “the survival of the
fittest.”
-Was applied to social change/
situations
-Those who were fittest enjoyed
wealth & success & were superior
to others

15. Social Darwinism
-Non-Europeans were
considered lower than
Europeans because they did not
have the technology Europeans
had
-Eur0peans felt it was there job to
bring European ways elsewhere

16. RELIGIOUS
GOALS:
-to convert native people to the
Christian religion
-to convince native people that their
religion is wrong/ “evil”
-to change the beliefs of the next
generation

17. ECONOMIC
GOALS:
-to obtain raw materials to produce
goods-supply
-to get the native people to
purchase European goods and
services-demand
-to make money

18. British
cartoon
showing the
Chinese
being
savaged by
European
powers, and
the poem The
Partition of
China 1897

19. MOTIVES
 POLITICAL (Europeans depicted as
animals competing for piece of China) or
 ECONOMIC (desire to trade in China to
make cash) or
 RELIGIOUS (Chinese depicted as
heathen, calls on Christian duty to preach in
China) or
 IDEOLOGICAL (belief that foreigners
should be “civilized” by Europeans)