The document discusses the age of imperialism from 1870-1914 when European powers, the US, and Japan colonized parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. It outlines the economic, political, and social causes of imperialism including seeking new markets and resources. It describes how European powers conquered and divided up Africa at the Berlin Conference of 1885 which led to disputes over territory. It also discusses the occupation of Asia, including Britain and France taking large parts of the continent and Western powers forcing China to open up to trade. The largest colonial empires were the British and French empires. The document concludes with consequences of colonialism such as demographic changes, cultural and economic impacts, and social disruption in colonized regions.

1. THE AGE OF IMPERIALISM
4ºESO UNIT 6
By Ángel Ramos

3. Previous concepts
• Imperialism: Process of territorial conquest in Africa, Asia and
Oceania carried out by the European industrial powers USA and
Japan, between 1870 and 1914.
• Metropole: Occupying state. Homeland or central territory of a
colonial empire.
• Colony: Occupied territory by a foreign state that controls its
economy and politics.

4. Causes of imperialism
• Economic interests
• Search of new markets: to sell the surplus products.
• Search of raw materials and colonial products: Iron, coal, cotton, rubber. Sugar, tea,
cocoa…
• New investments: looking for cheap labour outside Europe.
• Population growth
• As a consequence of Industrial Revolution, European population had reached
exponentially.
• Overpopulation in rural areas: people were encouraged to emigrate to colonies.
Metropole avoid social problems (strikes, unemployment, etc)
• Politics
• Strategic situation of colonial territories: Expand areas of influence and hinder
competitors’ expansion.
• Prestige of nations: The more colonies the more international prestige.
• Racism
• The myth of the white master race and its civilizing mission.

6. The conquest of Africa
European powers started a “colonial race”
in Africa to seek new areas of business
and demonstrate their power over other
countries.
• First explorations:
• Mid 19th century, carried out by famous
explorers British (Stanley and Livingstone)
and French (Brazza), travelled around and
mapped out central Africa.
• After exploration phase the conquest was
quick and easy, taking advantage of rivalries
between African tribes to pit them against
each other and recruit troops.
David Livingston and Henry Morton Stanley
Exploration routes made by Stanley and Livingstone
Pierre Savorgnan di Brazza,
explorer at the service of France

7. Clashes between colonial powers
19th century was characterised by constant incidents between
European countries for the control of Africa.
• Origin of rivalries:
• In 1876 the King of Belgium, Leopold II, hired the explorer Stanley
to explore and occupy a huge area in central Africa.
• The Belgian king created the territory called “Free Congo State”. It
was a personal colony of the Leopold II.
• After this occupation other European countries wanted to obtain
their areas of control in Africa. The clash of interest resulted in the
• Berlin Conference 1885: Established the rules for dividing the african
territory and areas that each country would occupy.

9. Clashes between colonial powers
• Disputes after Berlin conference:
• The Berlin Conference established “The principle of
effective occupation”: Countries only posses territories if
they have the effective control (Army, administration, trade,
etc) over these lands.
• Based on this principle the European powers began a
colonial race to conquer the African territories, and many
disputes arose:
• Fashoda incident 1898:
- France and Great Britain wanted to join their colonies with a railway
line that crosses the continent.
- When they met in Fashoda (South Sudan) both claim this territory
as it own.
- France and G.B almost started a war for the control of South Sudan,
finally France retreat its troops and accepted the British sovereignty
along the Nile river.

10. Clashes between colonial powers
• The Boer Wars (1880 – 1881 and 1899 – 1902):
• Conflict between Great Britain and Dutch settlers (Boers) who had inhabited
southern Africa since the 17th century.
• First Boer War (1880 – 1881): Great Britain was defeated and the Republic of
Transvaal was recognised as an associated state to the British Empire.
• Second Boer War (1899 – 1902): Boers and British fought for the control of
gold mines founded in the Republic of Transvaal. Eventually, Great Britain
defeated the Boers and annexed their territories into the British empire.

11. Occupation of Asia
• Much of this continent was occupied:
• By European powers: Great Britain, France and Germany + the rests of old
empires such as Portugal and Netherlands.
• New industrial countries: Russia, USA and Japan.

12. Occupation of Asia
• The case of China:
• All colonial powers wanted to be part of China’s market, due to its large
population.
• The Opium Wars (1839 – 1842 and 1856 – 1860) forced China to open up to
western trade. (“Unequal treaties”)
• Foreign intrusion was met with several uprisings such as the Boxer Rebellion
Shows an Englishman ordering the emperor of China
to buy opium. Another Chinese man lies dead on the
ground with troops in the background. The text says:
"I tell you to immediately buy this poison. We want
you to poison yourself completely, because we need
a lot of tea in order to digest our beefsteaks

13. The great colonial empires
• British empire:
• In the late 19th it had the largest colonial empire.
• Controlled maritime trade routes with bases in all oceans and most important seas.
• Territories in five continents with “five jewels”: Canada, Egypt, South Africa, Australia and
India.
• India was the main colony: Supplier of raw materials and huge market for British products.

14. The great colonial empires
• French Empire:
• Second largest colonial empire.
• Africa: From Red Sea to Atlantic Ocean.
• Southeast Asia: Cochinchina, also know as “French Indochina” (Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos)

15. Non-European Empires: USA and Japan
• USA:
• After the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) became a
great industrial power.
• Colonial expansion towards Pacific and Caribbean:
• Expelled Spain from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippines.
• Seized a strip of Panama, and finished the Panama Canal.
• Japan:
• Meji dynasty began Japan’s modernisation on 1868
• Achieved in decades a large-scale industrialisation
process.
• Expanded its conquests towards the continent and
Pacific Islands:
• Occupied Kuril Islands, Korean Peninsula and Formosa.
• Fought against Russia for the control of the Chinese province
of Manchuria.

16. Consequences of colonialism
• Modification of territory:
• Europeans created new borders and drew
new countries, and built new cities.
• Built infrastructure to exploit the resources
and linked conquered territories.
• Changed the landscape, political structure
and economy of the continent.
• Didn’t take consideration for the indigenous
characteristics (linguistic, religious or tribal)
• New countries with serious problems of
internal cohesion.

17. Consequences of colonialism
• Demographic impact
• Europeans introduce the medical advances in their colonies: Vaccines, better
hiygiene, etc.
• As a consequence the mortality rate dropped but the birth rate kept high:
• Demographic explosion: altered the balanced between population and
resources = led to malnutriniton.

18. Consequences of colonialism
• Cultural colonisation:
• Indigenous peoples’ customs and oral tradition did
not survive the cultural impact of western culture:
Acculturation phenomenon
Lose their identity and way of life
Lose their beliefs and lifestyles
Forced to abandon their traditions and religious beliefs

19. • Economic consequences:
• Colonisers imposed their economic interests:
• Replaced traditional crops with large plantations to
grow more profitable products: Cocoa, coffee, cotton,
fruits, rubber, etc.
• Forced indigenous people to work in the plantations and
impose a cash market economy.
• Industrial products imported from the metropole ended
with the artisanal production .
• Social consequences:
• Dismantling indigenous system of social hierarchy
and its way of life.
• Ethnic groups were divided or united artificially,
forcing opposing groups to live together = crating
ethnic conflicts that still endure.
Consequences of colonialism