Imperialism and Colonialism: Causes, Factors, and Societal Impacts, Apuntes de Historia del Mundo Contemporáneo

¡Descarga Imperialism and Colonialism: Causes, Factors, and Societal Impacts y más Apuntes en PDF de Historia del Mundo Contemporáneo solo en Docsity! 1. WHAT IS IMPERIALISM? Imperialism is a poli�cal doctrine that defends the right of some countries or peoples to rule over others based on cultural, racial and economic superiority of the firsts over the seconds. It took place between 1850 and 1915. At the beginning to the 20th century, the 85% of the Earth surface was dominated by European countries. Colonialism is imperialism took into prac�ce by establishing colonies over far or nearby territories to exploit them economically. • Metropolis: The conquering country. • Colony: Conquered territories. Imperialism and colonialism are new in 19th century being directly caused by industrializa�on and na�onalism. It is not related to the 16th and 17th centuries Spanish and Portuguese empires. New empires rose in the 19th century: Bri�sh Empire, French Empire, German Empire, Russian Empire, Belgian Empire, Portuguese Empire and Italian Empire. Curiously Spain will lose its colonies during the period. In the 20th century Japan and United States built their own empires. 2. REASONS OF IMPERIALISM AND COLONIALISM • Economic reasons: Necessity of raw materials for industry and new markets to export industrial goods and capitals. • Poli�cal reasons. Military control of strategic areas such as Malta, Gibraltar, Chipre, El Cabo or Egypt. Also was important for the Interna�onal pres�ge. • Demographic reasons: Colonies will absorb the popula�on increase due to the demographic revolu�on. • Ideological reasons: Na�onalism proposed that a big na�on should rule over lesser ones. Civilizing the savages. Whites must civilize lesser civiliza�ons and cultures in Africa or Asia. • Religious reasons: Catholic and Protestant Church were in agreement with the imperialism with the aim of evangelizing to savages. 3. factors of imperialism and colonialism There are some factors that enable the forma�on of a colonial empire such as: Economic factors: the new colonial empires belonged to industrial countries such as Great Britain, France, Germany or Russia. Without industrial mass produc�on and factories could not be possible or necessary to maintain a colonial empire. Ideological factors: the rise of Na�onalism, and other ways of thinking such as Social Darwinism, considered some civiliza�ons be�er than other, so the strongest had right to rule over the weak. Technological advances: It was necessary faster ways of transport such as steamboats or trains to communicate easily the metropolis and the colony. Also, new weapons such as rifles, cannons or machine- guns to face to the indigenous popula�ons. Medical advances: Vaccines. Drugs like aspirins and quinine that allow to face new diseases from Africa or Asia, such as malaria, yellow fever or cholera. Geographic Socie�es: The explora�on of the world was a great help opening paths to conquering armies. 4. colonial administra�on There were some different types of colonial administra�on. It depends on the rela�onship with the indigenous power and the metropolis. Colony: the territory is completely summited to the metropolis. Usually was ruled by a governor, it has its own laws dra�ed in the metropolis. Na�ve inhabitants were treated as a second class people. One of the most important example was India o El Cabo in the Bri�sh Empire or Congo in the case of Belgium. Protectorate: the territory reminds certain independence respect to the metropolis. Usually the metropolis has power and jurisdic�on in foreign trade and foreign policies, meanwhile the na�ve government has jurisdic�on in domes�cs affairs. Usually were stablished over territories with a strong ruling class, such as sultanates as Morocco or kingdoms as Egypt. Dominion: the territory is completely summited to the metropolis. Its was characterized by a great autonomy respect the metropolis. Usually was established in territories with a non important na�ve popula�on such as Canada, Australia o New Zeland. Concessions or Trade Companies: the states granted private companies large territories to administer who were only interested in exploi�ng and plundering the natural resources of the territories. The na�ves worked as slaves for this companies who employed racist policies. One example is Indonesia, which was controlled by the “Compañía de las Indias Orientales” Metropolitan Province: In this case the new territory was fully integrated into the metropolis, as another province in the state. Is the case of Algeria in France or Guinea Ecuatorial in Spain. Interna�onal mandate: A�er the War World First (WWI), were established for the administra�on of the colonies of the defeated countries such as Otoman Empire and Germany. 5. colonial society Colonial society was divided by color skin over economic differences. White people. The colonists. High Class whites. Head of the administra�on and army Owners of planta�ons, mines or other concessions. They lived in special areas where na�ve were totally forbidden except servants and other workers. Low class whites. Lower ranks of the administra�on and army. Planta�on foremen, store owners, urban workers, adventurers, army veterans. They had strong racists ideas because this was the only way to feel over wealthier na�ves. Colored people. The na�ves. High Class na�ves. Members of the previous ruler class. They kept part of their proper�es and power and. They whether bribed or forced to “sell” their na�ons. They usually cooperates with the colonial power in order to keep their wealth and status. Some of them studied at the metropolis where were treated as equals but when they were back to the colonies they were treated as na�ves again. Lower class na�ves. They were the labour force in the colonies. They worked in almost slavery condi�ons. They had no rights on their countries, paid taxes, worked at planta�ons and mines. Some�mes they rose up against the colonial power led by hight class na�ves or religious leaders. 6. colonial expansion. bri�sh empire The Bri�sh begun to build their Empire by the end of the 18th century. In Asia they established some colonies in current day Australia and New Zeland a�er James Cook´s travels into the Pacific. Also Great Britain establish its most important colony over India, called “the crown jewell” because of the value of its resources and Burma (Myanmar). Also were established some commercial concessions to private trade companies over China and Hong-Kong, which originated the Opium Wars. In Africa, Great Britain established a protectorate over Egypt during Napoleonic Wars. The main and defini�ve impulse in Africa took place under the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) when most Africa was colonized. Egypt, Sudan, Kenia, Nigeria and El Cabo. In America, Great Britain established some colonies in some Caribbean Islands and Canada. In Middle East, a�er the War World First, it was established a interna�onal mandate over the O�oman Empire possessions such as Pales�na, Jordania and Irak, and the German colonies in Africa such as Tanzania, Namibia, Togo or Camerun. 7. colonial expansion. french empire French started later than the Bri�sh on the construc�on of their Empire. The revolu�onary process and napoleonic wars kept them very busy. In 1830 French took Algeria from the O�oman Turks star�ng their empire over North Africa. Later they conquered part of Congo, Mauritania, Senegal, Costa de Marfil and Sahara and established a protectorate over Morocco and Tunisia. In the 1880’s they established colonies in Vietnam and Laos. They also kept concessions over some indian ports (Pondichery) and China (Shanghai) A�er the World War First France gained Syrian and Lebanon from the O�omans. 8. colonial expansion. other colonial empires