History and Impact of Global Colonialism and Imperialism

Definition of Colonialism

Colonialism is the establishment of a colony in one territory by a political power from another territory, considered the mother country, and the maintenance, expansion, and exploitation of that colony.

Primary Causes of Colonial Expansion

The expansion was driven by several key factors:

• Industrial Development: New raw materials were required that were sometimes found in territories very far from Europe. The development of European industrial production demanded that new consumer markets be established.
• Population Growth: Intense population growth in Europe led to more overseas emigration. Between 1871 and 1911, approximately 33 million Europeans left the continent.
• International Competition: Competition developed between industrialized countries; they wanted more colonies for economic reasons, as well as for political prestige and strategic reasons.
• Ideological and Cultural Factors: These included the "civilization" of the rest of the world, feelings of racial superiority, religious missions for evangelization, and scientific missions.

Key Explorers and the Way of Expansion

The way of expansion depended on the colonized territory. Notable explorers include:

• David Livingstone: A Scottish missionary and scientist who undertook many travels. He held an anti-slavery position and is famous for the discovery of Victoria Falls.
• Henry Morton Stanley: An American explorer supported by King Leopold II of the Belgians. He killed many indigenous inhabitants of the Congo.

The Colonization of Africa

In 1885, Germany organized the Berlin Conference. The objective was to decide how Africa would be divided among the European powers. Germany feared not having any territories and eventually controlled German South-West Africa, Cameroon, and German East Africa. The British Empire wanted a large belt of land from Egypt to Cape Town. France controlled the Sahara and bordering countries, while Portugal controlled large inland areas.

Imperialism in Asia: India and China

In Asia, India was colonized by the British and was considered the Jewel of the Crown. France took control of Indochina.

China and the Opium Wars

China remained an independent country with an emperor and its own ancient institutions. However, it was forced to cede control of its mines and allow legal foreign trade. New and very important ports for international trade were established in coastal cities such as Canton and Shanghai. Due to British intolerance regarding opium consumption and the smuggling of the drug to generate profit, the Chinese fought the Opium Wars (1839-1842), which resulted in a British victory. This led to the 1842 Treaty of Nanking, making Hong Kong a British royal colony until 1997.