Imperialism: The states that practiced it sought to conquer territories to achieve the rank of world powers.
Colonialism: The metropolis controlled a number of jurisdictions, imposing structures and lifestyles on indigenous peoples.
Primary Causes of Imperial Expansion
Economic: There was a dual need to create new markets to sell goods and obtain raw materials.
Population: European economic growth produced a surplus population, causing difficulties in finding work; colonies served as a safety valve for this population.
Policy: Europe's borders had been stabilized, and territorial expansion had to be conducted in regions outside the continent.
Ideological and Scientific Motivations
Nationalism: States competed to demonstrate their prestige and military power through imperialism and the arms race.
Racism: White people were thought superior to others, which was used to justify settlements as the best way of transmitting civilization and improving the lives of other peoples.
Science: Reasons to explore unfamiliar areas included the desire to know other cultures and make scientific and geographical discoveries.
Models of Colonial Organization
Colonial exploitation: In these colonies, the metropolis was devoted entirely to economic exploitation.
Dominion: These were receiving colonies where the white population migrated to settle permanently.
Protectorate: These were territories that, after European occupation, retained their indigenous government and their own administrative apparatus.
Concession: This involved the rental or sale of ports in independent countries, where settlers obtained commercial advantages.
The World's Leading Colonial Empires
British Empire: This was the largest colonial empire in the world, stretching from India to Africa.
French Empire: This was the second-largest empire, established in several areas but especially in North Africa and Southeast Asia.
Other empires: The United States and Japan were the only two other powers where colonial expansion began.
Consequences of Global Settlement
Economics: The metropolis prevented the industrialization of the colonies.
Policies: This created artificial borders, clashes, and wars. States maintained a great rivalry, measuring their strength through the weapons they possessed, which eventually led to World War I.
Social: Consequences included population growth and the destruction of indigenous cultures.
