1. European Imperialism

2. I. Beginnings
Until 19th century, Europe had not sought creation of empires in Africa and Asia
Originally, profits through cooperation (East India Trading Companies)
Contact between home countries and trading companies was sparse
Company directors (often called “men-on-the-spot”) were drawn into local struggles – often acted first, reported later
Made it easy for European nations to completely take over (imperialism)
Reasons for imperialism
Industrial Revolution caused need for more land, raw materials
Racism – belief that white Europeans were superior and deserved wealth and success (Social Darwinism)
Religious missionaries – wanted to civilize the world

3. II. Empires Start To Form
The Dutch take over Java (Southeast Asia)
One of earliest empires to be pieced together in late 17th, early 18th centuries
Dutch initially paid tribute to island leaders, sought to secure hold over spice trade
Drawn into local political struggles, received land in return for support
By 1760, Dutch controlled all of Java – core of Asian empire
British rule in India (mid 1700s-mid 1900s)
Considered the brightest “jewel in the crown” – most valuable colony
Decentralization of India as Mughal power declined helped British gain control
British grew in power by utilizing armies staffed by sepoys, or Indian soldiers
Set up restrictions on Indian economy – became dependent on Britain
India became major source of raw materials, outlet for produced goods

4. II. Continued… Scramble for Africa
Discovery of diamonds and gold in African interior in late 1800s spurred European interest
Competition was fierce – European nations feared war with each other
Berlin Conference ( ) – 14 nations met to decide rules for dividing Africa
Any European nation could claim land in Africa by notifying other nations and showing that they could control it
No concern for existing ethnic/linguistic divisions
No African leaders invited to conference
By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained free of European control

5. III. The Colonial World
1800s, early 1900s – Belgium, France, Germany, Britain all competed for dominance in new industrial world
Colonies were key to competition – access to resources, outlets for commercial activities
Popular opinion/national pride spurred colonization
Industrialization led to better communications/transportations/weapons technologies – allowed easier takeover
Resistance to colonization
Differed from colonies of North & South America
Europeans faced fierce resistance in many parts of Africa, Asia, south Pacific
British face off with Zulus in southern Africa
Vietnamese rebels organized guerilla bands against French
Locals more resistant to European diseases, Europeans susceptible to local diseases (malaria in Africa)

6. III. Continued… Two types of colonies by end of 19th century
Dependent colonies (“tropical dependencies”)
Africa, Asia, south Pacific
Small number of Europeans ruled large number of native people
Settlement colonies (“White Dominions”)
North & South America, Australia
Europeans and descendants made up majority of population
Native population decimated by disease/conflict
Europeans used existing rivalries and tensions to maintain control and put down resistance to colonial rule
Divide and conquer
India: Muslim vs. Hindus
Africa: animistic religions/converted Christians vs. Muslims
Strengthened existing tensions by dividing people into “tribes”

7. III. Continued…
Europeans often ruled colonies through subordinates, usually members of preexisting ruling groups
More conquering by dividing
Economic changes
Introduced European techniques/practices in an attempt to get more raw materials from colonies
Introduction of cash/consumer goods used as incentives to many societies
Colonized people began to be forced to produce more marketable goods
Economies of Africa, India, southeast Asia reorganized to serve needs of Europe
Exported crops replaced food crops in many areas

8. Africa, 1914