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European Colonialism: Key Concepts

Colonization involved the establishment and expansion of colonies in other territories by foreign powers. It created unequal relationships between the colonial power and colony. There were different types of colonization including colonies governed internally by foreign powers, direct control using paternalism, indirect control through local rulers, protectorates with internal government but outside control, and economic imperialism controlling economies while governments remained independent. Factors driving European colonization included the industrial revolution seeking new markets and resources, social Darwinism viewing non-Europeans as less developed, technological advancements improving transport and weapons, population pressures, surplus capital requiring overseas investment, political and military motivations, national prestige, and Christian missionaries paving the way.

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150 views8 pages

European Colonialism: Key Concepts

Colonization involved the establishment and expansion of colonies in other territories by foreign powers. It created unequal relationships between the colonial power and colony. There were different types of colonization including colonies governed internally by foreign powers, direct control using paternalism, indirect control through local rulers, protectorates with internal government but outside control, and economic imperialism controlling economies while governments remained independent. Factors driving European colonization included the industrial revolution seeking new markets and resources, social Darwinism viewing non-Europeans as less developed, technological advancements improving transport and weapons, population pressures, surplus capital requiring overseas investment, political and military motivations, national prestige, and Christian missionaries paving the way.

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World History

Lecture: 17
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Colonization

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Definition of Colonialism
• Colonialism is the establishment, exploitation, maintenance,
acquisition (लाभ), and expansion of colonies in one territory by
people from another territory.

• It is a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power


and the colony, and often between the colonists and the
indigenous population.

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Types of Colonization
1. Colony: This was governed internally by the Foreign Power. Example is British Indian territories. The day-
to- day management of the colony was done either directly or indirectly.
2. Direct Control: Using the policy of paternalism the Europeans governed people in a fatherly way by
providing for their needs but not giving them rights. European bureaucrats.
3. Indirect Control: Indirect control relied on existing political rulers. In some areas, the British asked a local
ruler to accept British authority (Suzerainty) to rule. The Imperial power appointed agents or officials to
advise these rulers on local matters.
4. Protectorate: This referred to a country or territory with its own internal government but under the
control of an outside power. Example is British protectorate over the Niger River delta in Africa.
5. Sphere of Influence (SOI): This refers to an area where the European country claimed exclusive privileges
to trade or investment.
6. Economic Imperialism: These were the area where government was independent but economy was
controlled by the private business.

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Factors of Colonization
1. Industrial Revolution: As European nations industrialized, they searched for new markets and raw
materials to improve their economies.
2. Social Darwinism: In the Social Darwinism theory, the ideas of Charles Darwin about evolution and
"survival of the fittest" were applied to social change. The non-Europeans were considered to be on
a lower scale of cultural and physical development because they did not have the technology that
Europeans had. White Man`s Burden theory.
3. Technological Advancements: Transport communication was greatly improved due to the brilliant
triumphs of modern science and engineering. The consequence was that the conquest and
occupation of distant land became infinitely more feasible. Maxim Gun proved vital in expansion of
European powers in Africa.
4. Population Pressure: Expanding population - Economic distress and periodical recurrence of
unemployment forced people to find new homes and careers abroad.

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The Jungle Book
(1894),

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Continue….
5. Surplus Capital: Surplus capital required investment in newly opened up countries where
greater returns could not be easy. Therefore, this sort of economic penetration was often
the forerunner of political control as in the case of Egypt and Morocco etc.
6. Political and Military factors: As the temper of the age grew more militartic, the nations
of Europe came to realise that the colonies might have also a military value.
7. National honour and prestige: The spirit of national pride and desire for prestige supplied
a very strong incentive to colonial expansion. This spirit was especially strong in the two new
states of Italy and Germany. British proudly said that sun never sets in British Empire.
8. Role of Christian missionaries:The missionaries often led the way for the merchants and
then for the military penetration.

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