This document discusses the roots of Western imperialism between 1870-1914. It provides three main reasons for European imperialism: political, economic, and cultural. Politically, European leaders sought colonies as sources of troops and to increase national prestige. Economically, they wanted colonies for raw materials, new markets, and land for a growing population. Culturally, Europeans viewed non-Western peoples as primitive and aimed to spread Christianity and their cultural values. The document outlines different types of colonial control and provides examples of how imperialism impacted specific regions of Africa and Asia.

1. CHAPTER 17.1
Section 1: The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Section 2: European Claims in North Africa
Section 3: European Claims in Sub-Saharan Africa
Section 4: Expansion in Asia
Section 5: Imperialism in Latin America
The Age of Imperialism

2. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
• Imperialists
viewed
colonies as
___________
_ __________
•
__________
_
wanted to
spread
__________
__
Political Reasons Economic Reasons
• European
leaders wanted
stable sources
of
_____________
_____________
____
Cultural Reasons
Bell Ringer 17.1:
Why did Europeans establish
colonies in foreign empires?

3. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
At the end of the 18th
century colonialism seemed
to have become a thing of
the past.
Britain had lost its Thirteen
Colonies in America, Spain
and Portugal had lost most
of South America and
Holland was having
difficulties holding onto the
East Indies.

4. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
A hundred years later, however, a second wave of colonisation
took place. Within twenty years, from 1880 to 1900, every corner
of the Earth, from the highest mountains in the Himalayas to the
most remote Pacific island and Antarctica, came to be claimed by
one or other European power.
How did they come
to control
most of the
world?

5. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
1870-1914 Height of the Age of Imperialism
…when one country takes control of another country.

6. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Types of Control
• Settlement colonies
• Dependent colonies
• Protectorates
• Spheres of influences

7. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Settlement colonies ~ Australia
…large groups of people from
one country living together in
a new place.

8. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Dependent Colonies
…European officials would rule
non-European people.

9. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Protectorate
…local ruler keeps his title
but the Europeans had the
REAL power and controlled
the area.

10. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Spheres of Influence
…an area where one nation has
a special interest and other
nations agree to respect those
special interests.

11. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Nationalism!
…nations believed that others would respect them more if
they had colonies.
BONUS!
Places to get
extra TROOPS!
BIGGER
ARMIES!

12. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
…a navy was just as
important as a large army.
Location,
location,
location!
Tiny islands with nothing but strategic
location became very, very important.

13. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Now let’s look at
the economic
motives for
imperialism…

14. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
What pushed imperialism in the 19th
century?
Industrialization!
• Raw materials
• New markets

15. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Rapid population growth
accompanied industrialization.
More people need more jobs
AND more space.

16. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Cultural Motives
People were considered lacking if their religion
or culture differed from the West.
They thought non-Western people were
primitive –
“half-devil and half child.”
They used this idea to
justify imposing their own
values and cultural ideas on
other peoples.

17. Political Cartoon
The Roots of Western
Imperialism

18. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Missionaries
Christian missionaries hoped to convert
people but they did other work as well.
Medicine, hygiene, and
sanitation spread along with
Christianity.

19. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Now, let’s look at some visual sources and political cartoons…

20. Political Cartoon
The Roots of Western
Imperialism

21. The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Political Cartoon

22. The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Political Cartoon

23. The Roots of Western
Imperialism
Political Cartoon

24. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism

25. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism

26. SECTION 1
The Roots of Western
Imperialism
• Imperialists
viewed
colonies as
sources of
troops.
• Missionaries
wanted to
spread
Christianity.
Political Reasons Economic Reasons
• European
leaders wanted
stable sources
of raw
materials.
Cultural Reasons