Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The New Imperialism: Motives and Methods The Scramble for Africa Imperialism in Asia and the Pacic Imperialism in Latin America The World Economy and the Global Environment
Learning Objectives: After reading and studying this chapter you should be able to discuss: 1. Understand the concepts of "New Imperialism" and "colonialism" and be able to analyze them in terms of motives, their methods, and their place in the development of the world economy and the global environment. 2. Understand the "Scramble for Africa" and be able to use concrete examples to illustrate the process of colonization and reactions to colonization in Africa.
3. Understand the process by which Central and Southeast Asia and the Pacic islands were brought under the domination of the great powers. 4. Understand and be able to analyze the causes and signicance of free-trade imperialism in Latin America.
Focus and Essential Questions: What motivated the industrial nations to conquer new territories, and what means did they use? Why were imperialists drawn to the natural resources of Africa, and how did their presence on that continent change the environment? What were the social and cultural effects of imperialism in Asia?
What were the economic motives behind imperialism in Latin America? How did imperialism contribute to the growth and globalization of the world economy?
Europe had a long tradition of imperialism reaching back to the twelfth century New Imperialism was characterized by an explosion of territorial conquests even more rapid than the Spanish conquests of the 16th century Economic, cultural, and political motives
Political Motives French leaders, humiliated by their defeat in 1871, sought to reestablish their nations prestige through territorial gain The desire for impressive empire overseas as a reection of national grander
Cultural Motives Both Catholics and Protestants founded new missionary societies, converting nonbelievers and to export their own norms of civilized behavior Western morals, medicine, hygiene, and monogamous marriages; Women sought to reform cultures under the auspices of womens rights sati
Many Europeans and Americans equated technological innovations with progress and change Humanity was divided into several races based on physical appearance and ranked in a hierarchy of civilized, semibarbarous, barbarian, and savage
Economic Motives The industrialization of Europe and North America stimulated the demand for raw materials An economic depression from 1870-1890 caused European merchants, manufactures, and shippers to seek protection against for foreign competition leading to the acquisition of colonies
The Tools of Imperialists Nineteenth century technological innovations began to tip the balance of power in favor of Europe The steamship, Suez Canal, Submarine Telegraph cables, Breech loading/Muzzle-loading, smokeless powder, machine guns
Contact with Europeans Initial phase: 1470s-mid1500s Portuguese trade in sh, pepper, ivory, gold Not colonizers or rulers; Africans treated as equal partners Some missionary work in the Congo but not a long-term Portuguese effort
Introduced crops from America: maize, tobacco, cassava, tomato pineapple, sweet potato Indies: orange, lemon, lime, rice, sugar cane By end of 15th century, trade mainly gold and slaves.
Second phase: mid-1500s-1800 Other nations entered in: England, France, Holland Trade was focused Little scientic curiosity, no interest in colonization, attempts to Christianize or Westernize was abandoned and slave trade was emphasized
Sources of slaves
Prisoners of war Captured in raids Domestic slaves and pawns resold Criminals
Effects of Slave Trade Africa: Depopulation Hindered economic development Atmosphere of fear and insecurity; increased war and raids Change in attitudes of Europeans toward Africans
Colonization of Africa
1879 90% of Africa was independent 1900 all but a fraction of Africa was governed by European powers
Political: Rise of nationalism in Europe, colonies seen as mark of national pride and prestige France eager to restore prestige after loss in Franco-Prussian War 1870-71 Practical: New medicines lowered death rate of Europeans; New guns made conquest possible
Ideological: European doctrine of innate superiority European duty to dominate European rule viewed as privilege Social Darwinism
European cooperation Berlin Conference 1884-5 and others: Europeans divided Africa among themselves Division reected power balance among Europeans, no relation to situation in Africa Prevented Africans from playing off one European power against another
African colonialism Period of establishment 1885-1915 Period of active development 1915-1945 Period of retreat 1945-1955
British colonies The Dual Mandate in Tropical Africa Govern in interests of both colonizers and colonized Colonies should be selfsupporting Colonies should allow expansion of British trade
British colonial rule Indirect rule: Use of African chiefs and political forms as modied by British African leaders put in difcult middle position Led to fossilization and undemocratic systems but retained some of tradition
French colonies Goal of Assimilation: Educated could become Black Frenchmen Direct rule: Assumed African institutions unacceptable Control by French except on local level
Ratio of foreign rulers 1930s Nigeria 1315 British20 million Nigerians French West Africa 3660 French15 million Africans French Equatorial Africa 887 French3.2 million Africans
Education British: Government didnt provide many schools but allowed missionaries to open schools. French: Held out goal of assimilation but provided little education, controlled size of elite
Two Types of European Imperialism The rst transplants European people to overseas locations. The second attempts to dominate and manipulate the economies of other peoples for European prot.
Asian Response Southeast Asia responded mostly passively. Ottoman Turkey tentatively and uncertainly; China defensively and reluctantly; Mughul India with confusion; Japan proactively.
Japan The arrival of Westerners set in motion a revolt against the old order. Out of fear of becoming like the exploited Chinese, rapidly established a unied national state that came to match European imperialists.
Asian Societies
None of these societies was weak in the broad sense. The people were tough and hardworking and had durable cultural institutions.
Cultural Roots Each society retained its cultural roots in the face of the Wests superior strengths. -military -industrial -scientic
Asian Weakness The weakness lay in having a durable traditional culture badly out of step with the twentieth century. India and Southeast Asia leadership was disunited. China was bogged down in self-satised orthodoxy. Japan was divided and uncertain.
Economic Difculties All these countries were undergoing economic difculties that reduced public faith in the leadership. The country that changed its leadership fastest was rst off the mark into the modern world. That was Japan.