What is Imperialism

Imperialism is: the ambition of a powerful nation to dominate the political, economic, and cultural affairs of another nation or region. The Age of Imperialism occurred between 1830 and 1917. During this time frame, numerous European nations experienced an increased desire for self-sufficiency. The industrialized nations of the time wished not to be dependent on other countries for raw materials. Thus, the leaders of these nations were forced to find alternative means of getting the materials that they needed. This alternative means just so happened to be the colonization of overseas nations, primarily in Asia, Africa, and South America. With this colonization, major European powers were able to get the materials that they needed without being dependent on their neighbor, and increase the sizes of their armies and navies. A major European power colonizing and annexing another overseas nation meant that that nation would then become industrialized. The price to pay for this, though, was a European monopoly on all the goods sold in those countries. Thus, local industries in overseas nations suffered significantly, and were in most cases unable to continue operation. Along with industrialization, came numerous missionaries of Christianity, and with them, knowledge of medicine, sanitation, and hygiene. Europeans felt that those less fortunate than themselves deserved to be subject to Western civilization. There were countless pros and cons to European Imperialism, but for the most part, Imperialism was beneficial to those that it influenced.

Other posts on imperialism:

What is Imperialism
The Effects of Imperialism on Foreign Lands
British Imperialism: South Africa
Imperialism Simulation
Historical Review: 20th Century Yugoslavia