Imperial Expansion : Conquer Or Be Conquered

After an elite revolution involving the advance of new technology and economy, global changes occurred. Capitalism, socialism, and nationalism were very popular before the fall of Africa, and before imperialism. With these ideas in mind, motivations like: the military, politics, demographic features, economics, and social classes had influence for the future of Africa and countries like Europe, Germany, and Russia were more powerful than Africa. Imperialism shaped when borders were opened, and authority was limited. A nation that is thriving on foreign trade and control outside its borders is more likely to imperialize. Europe’s acquisition towards African colonies in 1880 to 1914 included actions like the spread of religion , Africa’s lost

In Myths of Empire: Domestic Politics and International Ambition, author Jack Snyder seeks to explain why overexpansion has been so common among the great powers. Sometimes, Snyder argues, states over-expand so aggressively that their actions risk the survival of the states themselves, as was the case of Germany and Japan in the World War II era. Snyder explains that the ‘central myth of empire,’ which he considers ‘defensive realism,’ is that states think that their security can only be safeguarded through further expansion. Snyder explains that this myth of empire is the counterproductive aggressive foreign policy that was the major force that propelled

This can be shown in Document C, which features excerpts from one of John Ruskin’s novels. “(T)his is what [England] must either do or perish: she must found colonies as fast and as far as she is able, formed of her most energetic and worthiest men;—seizing every piece of fruitful waste ground she can set her foot on, and there teaching these her colonists … that their first aim is to be to advance the power of England by land and by sea” (Ruskin). From this, the reader can understand what European’s primary motives were. This excerpt illuminates the fact that European countries took over the country of Africa to harvest their own profits and succeed economically, and would take down other European countries for their own

The non-Western societies responded to the West’s power differently, during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s.When the industrialization train rolled into other societies, they greeted it with open arms. They would try to preserve the old ways, or sought out to modernize on their own. Some were too weak to adjust on their own terms.

Between the period from 1880 to 1914, European powers went after overseas empires in Africa. The governments and political leaders of the European powers believed that this colonization of the African empires was necessary to maintain their global influence. A second group of people supposed that African colonization was the result of the greedy Capitalists who \only cared for new resources and markets. The third group of people claimed it to be their job to enlighten and educate the uncivilized people of Africa. Although the political leaders of European powers encouraged colonization of African empires to advance their nation’s global influence, others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who sought new

Lugard connects nationalistic and economic motives for imperialism by addressing how it is needed for Great Britain’s economic growth. During the late eighteenth century, many countries were looking for new materials to trade and use and had to go to Africa to find these materials. In the speech saying, “… absolute necessity, for the prosperity of this country” Lugard use this to convey how powerful it could be having imperial lands that the country should not just do it but that it is a necessity. Without it the country would not advance, but with it they will get new raw materials to trade making the empire wealthier. By the reason of this people will have stronger nationalism over having a wealthy empire and more land to gain more wealth.

From 1853 to 1941, Japan changed from being a reclusive, isolated nation that kept to itself to an imperialistic power openly attacking and conquering surrounding territories and peoples.

The Great African Land Race: Expanding European Territory Since the 1500’s, Europeans have been utilizing Africa as a center for trading and slavery. But in the early 1880’s, Africa became more of an interest to Europeans like King Leopold who wanted to expand their control over the world. The rush to conquer the mysterious continent began. Many factors caused Europeans to take part in land grabbing; however, the largest force driving Europeans towards imperialism in Africa was the desire for power through riches and natural African resources, which allowed Europeans to expand their economy and territory. Europeans quickly began to seize as much land as they could in Africa in order to win the great race for power.

Within the NO portion the author states several things to support that imperialistic rule by Britain was not primarily economic. Industrial Europe required a highly specialized world, in which some areas would produce food for its industrial proletariat, others would produce raw materials for the industrial process, and the entire world would constitute a market for industrial goods. But to achieve this Europe needed to recast the world in its own image, to create the same infrastructures and similar institutions that would permit resources to be exploited and trade conducted (MacKenzie 99). This shows that imperialistic rule by Britain and other European nations was not solely economic but more so a way to gain materials, trade materials, and expand their cultures and receive outside cultural influence through imperialistic rule rather than using imperialistic

The European powers that were in much need for resources during the 1500s through 1800s were Great Britain, France and Germany. During 1500 and 1800 Africa seemed like an impossible feat to conquer because of malaria but this wouldn’t stop the persistence of the leaders of France and Great Britain. The idea of exploring and conquering new land meant more to these leaders because of the motivation to keep their national security strong and keep their economy stronger. These countries would use their remaining resources to look for more disposable ones so that their empires could grow considerably. Great Britain would be dug in the

The age of imperialism was an important part of history, it was during the 19th and 20th centuries. During this time period, European countries were taking over great sections of the world. It wouldn't be long before they started to take over Asia. Some countries such as, India and China, went under European control and influence. While Japan adopted reforms to meet the western challenge. How was it possible that Japan was able to be strong while India and China couldn't?

The Japanese pursuit for an empire in South East Asia helped changed the balance of world power away from Europe, by taking their most lucrative colonies. Soon after the Japanese defeat in World War II, most of the colonies won their independence from their European masters. This essay will be arguing that despite the vast geographical distance and cultural, racial differences, as well as the different time periods involved, Japanese and European intentions were very similar, and that these similarities contributed to the weakening of Imperialism as a doctrine. To do so, this essay will be examining the reasons for the Japanese

Japan is often described as a ‘late comer’ to modernity where the industrial revolution started in Britain and spread across the world, however, Sino and Shinto centrism would challenge this concept with Asian civilisation being far more ancient than its European counterparts. Indeed, some scholars have claimed that the only advantage Europeans had was in military technology and that only this was enough to become dominant in the Asian sphere – examples of imperial gunboat diplomacy and historic Asian economic superiority until the opium wars are often cited as good examples of western dominance being far from inherent in

According to Moritz Bonn, “the modern world is the result of colonisation,” and colonisation is generally defined as “the transfer of political, economic, and cultural institutions from one society to another.” During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the world was in chaos. A number of countries from all over the world had colonised other states or had been colonised by others. However, among the states that had escaped from the fate of being colonised, Japan stood out more noticeably as it had become westernised, and turned itself into the only nation in East Asia with a strong and competent military power as other Western countries, such as the U.S., Germany, and British. There are several major factors that contribute to the fact that Japan was not colonised by the Western powers. Firstly, it is primarily related to the success of social and cultural reforms of Japan during the Meiji period. Secondly, it is correlated to the Japan’s completion of westernisation and industrialisation.To begin

The western imperialism in East Asia begins with European interactions into what was at the moment called East Indies. This began during the 15th century in search of trade routes -- leading to the Age of Exploration of the European empires which were in the flourishing cultural and intellectual developments with Renaissance. By the early 16th century, European merchants greatly expanded Western European influence and established numerous trade posts with the countries in Asia, benefiting the European countries economically. This trend originated from the Portuguese breaking the monopoly of the Arabs and Italians of trade between Asia and Europe by the discovery of sea route between the two continents. As a direct result, Western empires introduced their different ideologies to the East such as their Christian beliefs, and their new weaponries.