Imperialism

What is Imperialism?

Imperialism

Imperialism is the domination of one country over another economically, politically, and/or culturally.

Direct Imperialism

Officials from ruling country rule in the colony imposing the government and culture, using military force if needed.

Forms of Imperialsim

Indirect

Local rulers rule the country with the direction of the ruling country. Ruling countries provide western education to westernize the colony. Military force is used as needed.

Sphere of Influence

Outside powers have exclusive trading privileges with a country; therefore one country benefits greatly economically.

Protectorate

Ruling country offers protection in return for resources, land, or other goods. Local rulers lead but expected to follow ruling country advice. A cheap form with little military use.

Africa

Africa before Imperialism

It is often forgotten that Africa had empires that flourished and were once greater than any other. The obvious example is the Egyptians; however, it is important to note that before Africa was split up into the countries we know today, it was a series of empires and tribes that were fairly successful Below are maps of the expanding empires in the North West portion of Africa.

African Resources

Africa was full of resources! Europeans looked favorably at the resources in order to expand their industrialization. Some of these included diamonds, oil, copper, gold, and bauxite (clay with hydrated alumina).

European claims prior to 1884

Before the Europeans went in a colonized all of Africa, some countries had claimed land on the coasts, though many had not ventured into the center of Africa. The map below shows the land claims prior to the Berlin Conference. These claims were used as a basis for the claims Europeans took during the Berlin Conference.

Africa 1914

Below is a map of the political lines of Africa as of 1914. Much of the land is owned by France and Britain. Importantly, many of the tribal land divides by Africans was ignored through the process of splitting up land between European countries. While Ethiopia and Liberia stayed independent, the rest of Africa was divided among the European powers.

Docudrama Trailer - Berlin Conference

(Who wouldn't want to watch this?)

The Berlin Conference

By 1884, European countries had taken many coastal areas of Africa. With nationalistic ideas rising, there were multiple countries who wanted to spread their culture and ideas, as they believed it was the best. Seeing that this could lead to conflict, Otto von Bismarck of Germany called together a conference in Berlin (Berlin Conference of 1884-5) in order to peacefully split up Africa and the resources within the continent.

Agreements included that countries had to effectively occupy an area, meaning they needed to be in the country or have documented proof (i.e. a treaty). Another agreement was that countries already owning parts of the coast could expand into the center of Africa from their already claimed land.

The Magnificent African Cake

Gold Diggers

Governing the Continent unitedly: A Reality

The British Empire

The Empire

Covering on fifth of the world, the British Empire was the mightiest empire known to man. The British owned more than any other country and exploited the lands it owned for resources and money. Because the empire had no rivals after Napoleon was defeated, their expansion was fairly easy. In the countries the British owned, natives were given a western education, British officials were put in charge, and rebellions of indigenous peoples were crushed by the British military.

Through all of this, the British believed they were helping these countries to become better and more developed. Now, there are more than 50 English speaking countries around the world, with almost 400 million people calling it their mother tongue.

The British Empire

The British Empire covered 1/5 of the world in virtually every time zone, hence the phrase the "sun never sets on the British empire." By 1914, the British had claimed large and small territories all around the world, including Australia, Canada, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, and India.

China

Sepoy Rebellion

Sepoys. or Indian soldiers enlisted in British armies, were unhappy with the disrespect that British showed towards their culture. In 1857, they rebelled due to a few causes which include:

1. The fact that they had to serve as soldiers in the British army, especially overseas

2. British East India Company allowing Hindu widows to remarry

3. New rifles oiled in animal (pig and cow) fat required Sepoys to bite the cartridge top off

Chinese Traditions and Culture

China has a rich culture based in Confucius writings and beliefs that flourished prior to European intervention. For centuries, the Chinese remained isolated from outside powers. This box includes only some of the interesting aspects of Chinese culture and tradition that has remained for thousands of years.

Customarily, to show respect, those who met the emperor would kowtow, or prostrate, before the ruler.

Kowtow

The emperor lived in the Forbidden city, Peking (now Beijing), named so because commoners were not allowed in the imperial city.

Confucius

Chinese society was largely based on the writings of Confucius which included filial piety (respect for one's parents), humaneness, and ritual.

Imperial Exams

In order to rise in society, Chinese would learn the Confucian writings and take exams on them. If they passed all exams, they could work in the imperial city or have an elite job.

19th - early 20th Century China Events

By the 1800s, China was involved with many countries, whether they wanted to be or not. Because of the influence of these countries, and the Western thoughts that were brought into China, conflicts occurred throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Below are a few of these conflicts

1839-1843

1850-1864

mid-1850s

1900

1894-1895

First Opium War

Because the British continued to bring opium into China after China had banned the drug, conflict broke out. In addition, Britain was only allowed to trade in one port, Canton. The British won the war, partly due to their superior technology, and opium continued to pour into the country. Britain also created an unequal treaty in which China paid war reparations and Britain gained Hong Kong and extraterritoriality (the right to live under own laws in another country), beginning the spheres of influence in China.

Taiping Rebellion

Christianity was brought into China through missionaries. Hong Xiaquan believed he was the next son of God and was sent to reform China. To do this, he attempted to destroy the Qing Dynasty. In the process, many died and China almost fell. Western troops in the Ever Victorious Army helped to defeat the Taipings.

Second Opium War

The British were looking to extend their trading rights in China again. The opportunity arose when Chinese boarded the British ship, the Arrow, and lowered the British flag. Since this and some small British led bombarding was enough for war, the Second Opium war ensued. This time the French allied with the British, making it a quick and simple win for the western powers.

Sino Japanese War

Korea was a client country (or a country which was independent yet dependent on the trade of another country) of China. Japan, a quickly modernizing country, also wanted Korea. Because of the war, Korea was free, as was Taiwan and both fell into Japan's sphere of influence.

The Boxer Rebellion

The secret Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists fought against the Westernizing power. Believing they had supernatural powers, Boxers (the English name for the members of the Society) practiced martial arts and traditional Chinese customs. They greatly disliked the Western powers and wanted them out. The Boxers began killing foreigners living in Beijing and seiged the city. Empress Cixi joined forces with the Boxers; however, Boxers and the Imperial Chinese army lost.Foreign armies had attacked and freed those in the city. This marked the ending of the Qing Dynasty, as the dynasty would fully collapse in the next decade. If you would like to watch the video from class, click here.

China Spheres of Influence

Below is a map of the spheres of influence in China. These countries did not own land in china but had special and exclusive trading agreements with China.

Japan

Meiji Restoration - Why did Japan Modernize?

Japan, not far off of the coast of China, had isolated itself for hundreds of years, as China did. However, when Japan saw China fall to the Western powers in the First Opium War, they feared the same would happen to them. To avoid this, they began to modernize and westernize, leaving behind traditions such as feudalism, in order to gain power.

An important piece to this puzzle is that Matthew Perry, of the USA, attempted to open the Japanese ports. After the Japanese refused trade, Perry continued anyways, opening Japan to the western powers. Japan was humiliated and did not want this to continue to happen.

Through their westernization and modernization, Japan strengthened its military, westernized education, sent people abroad to become western educated, modeled their government from Germany, and began to imperialize other nations (like Korea).

Meiji Restoration

Want to see that talking pig again...?

Haiku

Haikus are traditional Japanese poems, generally about nature. The first and last lines are 5 syllables while the middle is 7.

Japan began to

modernize so they would not

be taken over

They westernized their

education and strengthened

their army as well.

Soon Japan would be

an imperialistic

power, strong and sound.

Middle East

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal was created in Egypt from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Egypt, unable to pay for the canal, sold the canal to the British. Great Britain then made Egypt a protectorate. The canal made trade routes significantly shorter, which benefitted the industrializing European countries.

Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide occurred in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The event was the killing of 2 million Armenian and Greek peoples. Watch the video above for more details.