Week 6 in HIST1233, Modern Europe

1. Week 6
Age of Empire

2. I. Overview: The “imperial” century
In 1800, Europe controlled about 35% of global
landmass. By 1914, Europe ruled almost 85%.
How did this dominance come about?
Why did it end?
What legacies did it leave behind?

3. The long shadow of European
imperialism
Laid foundations for present global society
Political, economic, social, cultural, and
environmental repercussions throughout globe
Postcolonial era has transformed European society
and politics
Exportation of nation-states, nationalism and all the
problems therein to rest of world.

4. Imperialism and Colonialism
• Imperialism is the process by which an expanding state
dominates territory, population, and resources of less
powerful states of regions. Control is achieved
indirectly through spheres of influence, legal or
commercial privileges and concessions, other forms of
dependence.
• Colonialism is a form of imperialism that involves the
intensification of forms of domination. Characterized
by direct military/administrative rule, settler
emigration, and the systematic subordination of
indigenous peoples.

5. “Old” vs “new” imperialism?
• Traditionally historians distinguished “old” imperialism
from “new” imperialism.
• “Old” imperialism associated with Iberian conquests in 15th
century and later conquests in 16-18th centuries by British,
Dutch, and French. Revolutionary era led to erosion of old
imperial orders, loss of British North America, French
Canada, parts of Carribbean and Spanish America.
• “New” imperialism once dated from 1880s to WWI and
associated with the “Scramble for Africa”. Historians now
view it as longer period, from 1830s to 1930s.

6. What’s new about “new” imperialism?
• Industrialization: New technologies and medical
knowledge allowed Europeans new access to territories
in Asian and Africa. At same time, growing demands
for raw materials and search for export markets feeds
appetite for empire.
• Ideology: Rise of nationalism, liberalism, and scientific
racism all contribute to growing interest in empire.
Colonial subjugation of other peoples justified in terms
of static racial or “biological” hierarchies, while at the
same time the pursuit of empire was justified in terms
of moral and material “improvement”

7. II. Cultures of empire
Ideological foundations
 Nationalism
 Scientific racism
 Civilizing mission

8. Displaying empire at home

9. Replica of Angkor Wat, Paris 1931

10. Advertising empire

11. “Commodity” racism

12. II. Technology and empire: Steamboats and
“hydro” imperialism
• Technologies of free trade: China
• Technologies of territorial expansion: Africa

13. Grand Canal, China

14. Steamships in First Opium War (1839–1842)

15. Niger River

16. Igbo war canoe, Niger Delta, early 19th
century

17. Niger Expedition, 1841

18. Omadurman, 1898