Chapter 12 The New Imperialism Section 1 – A Western Dominated World

Setting the Scene When Edward VII inherited the British throne in 1901, his empire extended far beyond Britain. One writer boasted, 'The sun never sets" on the British Empire. In other words, because the empire circled the globe, the sun always shone on some part of it. Like Britain, other western powers built overseas empires in the late 1800s. The Industrial Revolution and the growth of science and technology had transformed the West. Armed with new economic and political power, western nations set out to dominate the world.

By the 1800s Europe had gained considerable power By the 1800s Europe had gained considerable power. Strong, centrally governed nation-states had emerged, and the Industrial Revolution had greatly enriched European economies. Encouraged by their new economic and military strength, Europeans embarked on a path of aggressive expansion that today's historians call the "new imperialism.” Imperialism is the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region Like other key developments in world history, the new imperialism exploded out of a combination of causes.

I. The New Imperialism and Its Causes Economic reasons included access to natural resources and new markets for factory goods

I. The New Imperialism and Its Causes Political and military reasons included the need for bases for ships to take on coal and supplies, and nationalism

I. The New Imperialism and Its Causes Humanitarian goals included the belief in the duty to spread western medicine, law, and the Christian religion

I. The New Imperialism and Its Causes Social Darwinism also played a role, applying ideas about natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies

II. The Success of Western Imperialism From about 1870 to 1914, imperialist nations gained control over much of the world

II. The Success of Western Imperialism As European nations grew stronger, the Ottoman Empire, Mughal India, and Qing China were in decline

III. Forms of Imperial Rule Colonies - The French practiced direct rule while the British relied on a system of indirect rule

III. Forms of Imperial Rule In a protectorate, local rulers were left in place but followed the advice of European advisers

III. Forms of Imperial Rule The sphere of influence was an area in which an outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges