IMPERIALISM

• Imperialism can be defined as the take over and rule of a weaker

nation by a stronger nation.
• British imperialism in India is the most suitable example to
explain how one nation can make use of another nation through
total control for profit.
HISTORY :
• As Indian spices, like Indian wealth, were world famous, so many invaders came to India. With an interest in trade, small European
ships in the early 1600s came to South Asia, especially in search of spices.
• India at that time was being ruled by Mughals from Afghan. So their first encounter was with the Mughal Empire.
• Mughal rulers, who were Muslims and Afghans, used to work in close connection with local Hindu rulers.
• Famous Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) even married Hindu princesses to expand his rule in India.
• This was the weakest point of India.
• Till 1700, the Mughal Empire enjoyed its peak but then it started to decline in India because Hindu rulers with time went against the
biased policies of Mughals. As per these policies, non-Muslims had to pay more taxes.
• Hindus and Sikhs at large and started disliking the Mughal leadership
• On the other hand, Europeans had a more powerful and advanced army. Hence, the regional Nawabs of that time started visiting
Europeans for military support and protection.
• At the same time, Europeans were more interested in trade and Mughals became uninterested in the trade at shore as they used to
get revenue from agricultural taxes.
• Seeing India’s potential in trade and market, the economic interest of British started growing in India.
• The East India Company with this interest, set up three trading posts one each at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.
• India was the source of raw materials as well as her large population was the possible market for British-made goods. With this,
India became the most valuable market and nation for British colonies.
• Indians were forced to buy British-made goods and along with this, Indian goods were not allowed to compete with British goods.
All the local producers and handloom textile industry of India was put out of business.
• The British laid down an extensive railroad network for transporting raw material from interior parts of India.
• India was a great source of cotton, coffee, tea, jute, indigo and opium. British used to sell opium to China for tea that they sold in
England.
• The British now held economic as well as political power over India.
• By 1850, almost the entire India was under the control of British, but now a discontent started taking place in the hearts of Indians.
• British attempts to convert Indians to Christianity was the major reason for this discontent.
• The outbreak of the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 was the first war for independence,
• A Hindu and Muslim split was the main reason why Indians were weak in front of the British.
• Countries practice imperialism to get raw materials and markets for their finished good
• England, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Russia, The U.S., Germany, Italy, Japan, Belgium and Turkey all practiced imperialism.

CAUSES FOR IMPERIALISM :

Five motives for imperialism :
• Economic
• Exploratory
• Ethnocentric
• Political
• Religious
TYPES OF IMPERIALISM :
Thee types of imperialism
• Colonies
• Protectorates
• Spheres of influence
COLONY:
An area under the complete control of another country and settlers
from the mother country come to the colony to live.
PROTECTORATES:
A country that is independent (sovereign), but under the
protection of another country.
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE :
A region where one country dominates trade with that area (the
area does not officially belong to another country)
INDIA COMES UNDER COLONY WHICH WAS CONTROLLED BY
GREAT BRITAIN
INDIA CALLED THE JEWEL CITY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE :
India was considered the “Jewel” of the British Empire, because it had
so much potential for profit through its raw materials (tea, indigo,
coffee, cotton, jute, and opium) and its large potential market
(population of 300 million).
The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League were two
political parties in India that fought for independence from Britain

SOUTH EAST ASIA:

Southeast Asia grew highly desired cash crops like sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, rubber, tin, coconuts, bananas, and pineapples. So it is
important to Europe and the US

South east Asia were controlled by the Dutch, Germans,

British, French, Japanese and the United States
IMPACTS OF IMPERIALISM ON OPIUM TRADE : OPIUM WAR :
SOUTH EAST ASIA:
• Southeast Asian economies became based on
cash crops.
• Roads, harbors, rail systems, and improved
communication was established.
• Education, health, and sanitation improved.
• Millions of people, from different ethnic
groups, changed the racial makeup of
Southeast Asia.
• Southeast Asia became a melting pot of
Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists.
• Racial and religious tension still exists today.

POSITIVE & NEGATIVE EFFECTS :

POSITIVE: NEGATIVE :
• Transportation methods and communication and • Loss of money ,wars with Britain
advanced in agriculture and mining • East India trading company would buy materials
• Paved road, cars , train and postal networks at a low price.
• Modern technology and education • Britain ruined India's previous economy and
• Machines for manufacturing goods , vaccines, industries as a result of Britain forcing them to
cars, electricity, guns, steel and steam engines to import their goods from Britain and not buy their
help industrialize the new colony. own goods from India.
• Population and production of goods increased • Much of the land was taken by other countries
and development of infrastructure . • India soon became dependent of Britain due to
• Caste system was removed from India y Britain the colonization.
allowing the people to be more equal. • Deaths from foreign diseases
• Sanitation improved ,hey were taught healthier • The Sepoy mutiny Indians captured Delhi,. Britain
habits and taught basic hygiene an cleanliness. soon crushed the rebellion and killed and
tortured many of the Sepoy's
• NORTH SOUTH DIVIDE: • DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:
North :
• North America, Western Europe, Australia ,Japan known
as first world.
• Richer and developed region.
• 95% has enough food and shelter and functioning
education system as well.
South :
• Africa, Latin America and Asia.
• Poor and less developed region
• 5% of the population has enough food and shelter.
• It serves as a source for raw material for the North.
• NORTH SOUTH GAP:
Term used to describe the economic gap between the rich
northern countries of the world and the south poorer
countries of the world.
• During cold war- primary global division was between
east and west and predicated upon security and power
balance.
• After cold war- many see primary global division as being
between north and south and predicated upon economic
inequality.

ISSUES OF NORTH – SOUTH DIVIDE :

• Distribution of income around the world
• Economic competition world wide
• Standard of living
REASONS FOR DEVELOPMENT GAP:
Environmental : Natural features . eg- soil
Historical : Things which have happen in years before .eg- war
Socio- economic : Society,culture and money .eg- religion Some countries are developing faster than others. Many Asian
countries are quickly developing while many African countries are
slowly developing.
• MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN NORTH AND SOUTH: This picture of the Earth at night shows the wealthy Global North,
illuminating its communities at night, and the much poorer Global
North South South, which can’t afford to do so.

• Less population • Large population

• High wealth • Low wealth
• High standard of living • Low standard of living
• High industrial development • Low industrial development
• Industry • Agriculture

• Comparison :
Comparison between North and South is not of only one aspect . It
can be seen through different angels that is :
• Political
• Economical
• Social

• Classifying countries : North :

Three types Political – external threat – wide spread of terrorist activity in the
• Most developed countries (MDCs)- Richest of the industrialized world wide example, attack on 9/11 , London bombing and Mumbai
and democratic nations of the world bombing
• Less developed countries (LDCs)- Countries with little industrial Economy – manufacturing – cheap labour example, Europe and the
development, little wealth, and high population growth. countryside.
• Least developed countries (LLDCs)- Very low per capital income, Social – determined by life in the cities
low literacy rates, and very little in the way of manufacturing • Both religion and education were organized
industries. • There were schools and churches in most towns
• College was reserved for the wealthy.
South : • North South gap
Political – The internal affairs of the nations – reason (political
struggles and corruptions , lack of respect for the rule of law and
violations of human rights) example, republic democratic of Congo
Economy – agriculture –cotton ,tobacco, rice, sugar cane
Social – determined by the upper class.
• Plantation owners and their families
• Only children of plantation owners received any education
• Small farmers had little or no education
• The culture of the south revolved around plantation life.
Reasons :
There are 3 main reasons why our world is so
unequal today:
• Colonialism
• Trade
• Debt
Colonialism : Division of north and south :
• Today’s North-South gap traces its roots to the colonization of • The North-South Divide (or Rich-Poor Divide) is the socio-
the Southern world regions by Europe over the past several economic and political division that exists between the wealthy
centuries. This colonization occurred at different times in developed countries, known collectively as “the North,” and the
different parts of the world, as did decolonization. poorer developing countries (least developed countries), or
• Control by one power over a dependant area or people. “the South.” Although most nations comprising the “North” are
Trade : in fact located in the Northern Hemisphere, the divide is not
• What you are spending to bring goods into your country is a primarily defined by geography.
greater sum that what you are making by selling products in • As nations become economically developed, they may become
the global economy. part of the “North,” regardless of geographical location, while
• You are loosing money. any other nations which do not qualify for “developed” status
• Southern countries suffered from this. are in effect deemed to be part of the “South.”
Debt : • “The North” mostly covers the West and the First World, with
• Their products were loosing money in the global economy, so much of the Second World.
they needed to increase production. Development gap:
• The only way they could do this was to borrow money from The North-South divide has more recently been named the
the rich northern countries. development gap. This places greater emphasis on closing the
• This put them in debt. evident gap between rich (more economically developed) countries
and poor (less economically developed countries) countries.